Kaguya-sama Wants My Surrender!

Before long, evening arrived. 

Over the course of the day, seven or eight unfamiliar players had gathered one by one. 

Except for the players determined to go solo or those still trapped in bizarre ghost story scenarios, nearly all the passersby players in the area had made their way here. 

Some had already collected ghost story videotapes but chose to act in a group regardless. After all, this was a perilous ghost story town, and until they left the dungeon for good, they were never truly safe. Naturally, they gravitated toward the security of numbers. 

Other players, still working on their main quests, waited patiently near the restaurant, suppressing their anxiety. They knew that Amamiya would be busy until the restaurant closed, at which point they could return to the school together and continue their gameplay services. 

"Amamiya, Umi-chan asked you to come out for a moment," Sajuna reported quietly, stepping forward. 

"Got it." 

Without looking up, Amamiya smoothly finished preparing the ominous dish in front of him. After receiving a five-star rating from the ghostly customer, he informed the manager and exited the restaurant. 

"Amamiya-kun! Over here!" 

The succubus girl, Umi, waved at him energetically from a distance. 

The restaurant had gained some infamy, attracting a steady stream of ghost story customers. To avoid unnecessary conflicts and dangers, Umi and the others opted to wait in a dilapidated park nearby rather than enter the building. 

"What's wrong?" Amamiya said, walking over to join Umi. 

Umi wasted no time explaining why she had called him out. 

"Just now, a stranger showed up—her name is Kobayashi. She said her teammate was caught in a ghost story and asked if we could help rescue them."

"I see," Amamiya replied with a small nod. 

It was no surprise. In a town like this, it was expected that players would encounter such predicaments. 

As they talked, the two of them made their way to the park where the rest of the group waited. 

"Amamiya-kun!" 

"Amamiya-san!" 

A chorus of greetings came as the players approached him with a mix of warmth and respect. Some even used honorifics in their speech. 

For players in need, clinging tightly to someone as capable as Amamiya was a matter of survival, not pride. 

"Master Amamiya, please help save Ryoko!"

A desperate female player rushed forward, stopping just short of him before bowing deeply at a full ninety degrees. 

"Stand up first," Amamiya said calmly. "Tell me what happened." 

The girl, who appeared to be a high school student, raised her tear-streaked face, wiping at the corners of her eyes. With trembling lips, she began her explanation: 

"Ryoko and I are classmates. We joined the novice mission together…" 

At the mention of the novice mission, Amamiya instinctively glanced at Kaguya, who had been quietly observing nearby. 

Their gazes met. 

No words were exchanged, but a shared understanding passed between them. 

Kaguya couldn't help recalling her own novice mission. That night, she had just taken a shower, changed into pajamas, and was preparing to rest. She'd taken a sip of water—then, without warning, she was dragged into the game alongside Amamiya. 

Though it hadn't been long since that night, the memories felt distant, as if they belonged to another lifetime. 

Meanwhile, the stranger, Kobayashi, continued her story. 

"Ryoko and I managed to find one ghost story videotape, but we needed one more to complete the mission. Ryoko insisted we search for another ghost story…" 

As Kobayashi spoke, Amamiya quickly pieced together the sequence of events. 

The girl and her teammate, Ryoko, had been real-life classmates. They completed their novice mission together, forming a close bond in the process. But in a world governed by horror, even the most cautious players weren't guaranteed safety. 

Their luck had run out. 

While pursuing their objective, they encountered a terrifying ghost story. The two-player team was nearly wiped out. In the end, Ryoko sacrificed herself, allowing Kobayashi to escape. 

The shaken girl had since learned about the "rules" from others. She now carried a small collection of items and rewards she had acquired from the game. 

Amamiya's sharp eyes scanned the assortment. Most of it consisted of mundane trinkets, but one item stood out—a pink bracelet that radiated a faint, intriguing aura. 

Upon closer examination, the item turned out to be a weapon. 

[Name: Love Blow] 

[Type: Weapon] 

[Attributes]: This is a training item once used by a certain magical girl. After charging, it can transform into a pistol. The bullets it fires come with random special effects, such as petrification, dizziness, accelerated heartbeat, repentance, or even inducing a state of calm reflection ("sage time"). 

[Caution]: If you don't wish to earn the title of "master of the human outline," basic shooting skills are highly recommended. 

[Note]: As everyone knows, magical girls' weapons are non-lethal, so please temper your expectations regarding its effectiveness in battle. 

Amamiya studied the bracelet briefly but didn't comment. Misinterpreting his silence as reluctance, the passerby girl gritted her teeth and pressed on. 

"...As long as you save Ryoko, I'll do 'anything'!" 

The desperation in her voice was evident. The bond between her and Ryoko ran deep—each willing to sacrifice for the other. 

Of course, "anything" was clearly meant in the literal sense. Even if it meant reducing herself to a ball of lint, she wouldn't hesitate. 

To be fair, the passerby girl was undeniably cute, with a slender yet curvy figure. Using her body as a bargaining chip was a far more tempting offer than random trinkets. 

However, Amamiya sighed and spoke with a solemn expression: 

"Girl, I feel as though my dignity has just been insulted." 

"Huh?" 

The passerby girl looked up in confusion, her pretty face blank with surprise. 

Meanwhile, Kaguya, Umi, and Chika all fixed their gazes on Amamiya with subtle, expectant expressions. They were clearly curious to see what he would say next. 

"If I were to take advantage of you in a moment like this," Amamiya began gravely, "I would lose my qualification to be called a human being." 

His tone was unwavering as he continued: 

"So, please take back what you just said. I am not the kind of person you think I am." 

It wasn't lost on him that, had they been alone, the situation might have been more... complicated. But with Kaguya and the others present, there was no way he could agree to anything that sounded remotely dishonorable. 

"S-Sorry!" 

Kobayashi was stunned for a moment, but the realization dawned quickly. A flush crept across her cheeks, and she bowed deeply again, her words full of embarrassment and regret. 

"I told you," Chika said cheerfully as she stepped forward. She gently patted Kobayashi on the back, her voice kind. "Amamiya-kun wouldn't just stand by and let someone die. We're all unlucky souls chosen by this game. It's only right for us to help each other. Don't worry—we'll rescue your friend." 

"That's right," Umi chimed in with a reassuring smile. She cast a glance at Amamiya, the kind of look that seemed to say, 'You did good.' 

Amamiya nodded thoughtfully. "I'll head back to the restaurant and let the manager know first. After that, we'll set out to save your friend." 

The decision to help hadn't come from a sense of obligation to maintain his image in front of everyone; it was rooted in confidence. 

After all, he had faced dangers alone before, like confronting the eerie ghost in the bathroom. With allies at his side, he is certainly getting braver. 

Besides, it was time to remind the ghost stories in this small town what true evil looked like!