Chapter 241: All members gather

At 3:30 in the afternoon, the school bell rang, signaling the end of the day. 

"Everyone, see you on Monday," the teacher at the podium announced before turning to leave. 

The once-quiet classroom erupted into a lively chatter. It was Friday, and the promise of a two-day weekend had students buzzing with excitement, many already making plans to hang out with friends. 

Amid the chaos, Amamiya moved with a calm precision, packing up his textbooks and slinging his bag over his shoulder before quietly leaving the classroom. 

---

Out in the corridor, a girl with long black hair stood waiting. Despite the faint dark circles under her eyes—evidence of sleepless nights—her expression carried a glimmer of anticipation. 

Dark circles, after all, didn't disappear overnight.

As Amamiya approached, he handed his schoolbag to Miko. "Here." 

Miko accepted it with a quiet nod, her fingers curling around the strap. She was tasked with taking his bag home, a routine they both understood without needing explanation. 

Tilting her head slightly, she spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Tomorrow's the weekend. Come over for lunch." 

Amamiya's lips quirked in a faint smile. "Can I place my order now?" 

"You can." 

"Tempura shrimp?" 

"Mm-hmm." 

"Karaage fried chicken?" 

"Of course." 

"I heard about this thing where they coat ice cream in breadcrumbs and fry it like tempura—" 

"I can't make that," Miko interrupted, her tone lightly exasperated. "I'll just buy you some ice cream instead." 

Amused, Amamiya noticed the way she glanced toward the staircase, as though checking to see if anyone was watching. He waved a hand dismissively. "Alright, that's enough for now. Let's go." 

Miko hesitated for a moment, her teeth catching her lower lip. "I have work tomorrow, and I'd like to sleep peacefully tonight… Come back early, okay?" 

Amamiya reached out, gently ruffling her hair with a smirk. "If you keep the place spotless, I'll come back no matter what—even if the world ends." 

Miko's cheeks flushed slightly, and she scowled at him. "…pervert!" 

"Hey, I was talking about cleaning," Amamiya replied smoothly, his expression innocent. "Don't let your mind wander." 

"What else would you—" 

Before he could finish, Her hand raised threateningly. 

"I was wrong!" Amamiya interrupted, bowing his head in mock repentance. "I'll be back. Promise." 

"…" 

Miko watched him descend the stairs, a small sigh of relief escaping her lips. 

As long as you come back safely… cleaning doesn't matter. 

-

Amamiya reached the ground floor, catching up with a carefree gyaru already heading for the school gate. Together, they exited the building just as Chika and Kaguya appeared, with Chika waving cheerfully. 

The four of them boarded a train bound for Umi's house. 

The ride was uneventful. Unlike the chaos of previous encounters, they faced no challenges from elementary schoolers or stray evil spirits on their journey, save for a pair of blind evil spirits easily avoided. 

When they arrived at Umi's home, a petite girl with pink hair and a schoolbag approached from the opposite direction. 

"JuJu-sama!" Umi called out, waving enthusiastically. 

The pink-haired girl perked up at the sound of her cosplayer name and made her way over. 

"Every time I see JuJu-sama, I think she's so cute," Chika gushed, her eyes lighting up. Having visited Umi's house recently to experiment with role-playing skills, she was already familiar with Sajuna. "Her pink hair is beautiful, her skin is soft and rosy—she looks like a little middle schooler." 

"Remember to call her 'senpai,'" Amamiya interjected. "She's a year older than you. She's already a sophomore." 

Despite his correction, one thing was undeniably true: Sajuna was undeniably 'pink and tender.' 

Chika wasn't done. "It's so rare to see such an adorable senpai! I'd love to hug her while sleeping." 

Super rare, indeed. 

It was a well-accepted fact: the world was full of unique individuals. Some people stood out in extraordinary ways, like Sajuna's exceptional cuteness. 

Others, of course, were born completely 'bald'—something statistically rare, occurring in about one in ten thousand individuals. 

In short...

Sajuna was truly one in a million.

A sharp stare came from the side.

"What are you looking at me for?"

Amamiya turned toward Kaguya, his tone light and innocent.

"There's something wrong with you," Kaguya said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Why do you keep staring at people's legs?" 

"…"

She's accusing me of staring at legs? Turns out I'm really clueless!

"Yes, I was looking," Amamiya admitted candidly. "Is it wrong for a man to admire legs?"

Kaguya blinked, momentarily speechless.

Amamiya met her gaze, calm and composed. "I like your legs too, by the way."

"…"

Kaguya's face turned a bright shade of red. Flustered, she covered her skirt with her hands and took a few quick steps away.

"We're in public! Don't say things like that so loudly. What if someone hears you?"

Unfazed, Amamiya continued, "Not just yours—I like Hana's and Umi's legs as well."

Kaguya froze mid-step, her cheeks puffing as she forced a strained smile. "Natsuki-san, you're really... honest."

"Thank you," Amamiya replied smoothly. "Honesty is one of my few virtues."

Kaguya: "…"

Before long, the group continued walking.

Although Sajuna was shy, she didn't seem to mind mingling, especially since Kaguya was the only unfamiliar face among the group. They exchanged greetings and made their way to Umi's house.

"I'm home," Umi announced, unlocking the door. She turned to Amamiya. "Can you grab drinks for Chika and Kaguya? JuJu-sama and I need to change quickly."

"Got it," Amamiya replied.

The group had gathered for one purpose—to gear up for the game. Ordinary clothes couldn't be stored in their in-game inventory, so they had to wear their cosplay outfits ahead of time.

Heading to the kitchen, Amamiya opened the refrigerator, ignoring the ghostly figure lurking inside. He retrieved two Cokes and handed them to Chika and Kaguya.

"I want to role-play too," Chika said wistfully, taking a sip of her drink. "But I still can't seem to nail it. Kaguya-chan, why don't you give it a try while we wait? I'm curious to see what role you'd pick."

Amamiya interjected with a casual glance at Kaguya. "I'd bet on a bunny girl."

Kaguya's face darkened as she glared at him.

"My bad," Amamiya said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "That was inappropriate."

"Let's leave it for another time," Kaguya said coolly, sipping her Coke and savoring the sharp burst of carbonation. "We can discuss it after we've cleared the game."

A short while later, Umi and Sajuna emerged, now in their cosplay.

Umi radiated confidence, embodying the allure of a succubus with a captivating air. Sajuna, on the other hand, wore the pink and white attire of a magical girl, her petite frame adding an adorable charm. Standing together, the pair was undeniably dazzling.

Umi greeted everyone's gazes with ease, while Sajuna fidgeted nervously, her cheeks flushed. She tugged at her magical girl skirt, clearly feeling out of place.

"You..." Amamiya began, looking down.

"I'm wearing panties!" Sajuna snapped, her cheeks puffed indignantly as she glared at him.

"You've misunderstood," Amamiya said, giving her a thumbs-up. "I was just complimenting your over-the-knee socks. They look great."

Sajuna: "…"

Shortly after, Amamiya disappeared into a room to change into his own outfit—the uniform of the "Trash Hero." Preparedness was key, after all.

[Note: What it looks like. ]

"Amamiya-kun, where's Hanamori-chan?" Umi asked once he returned.

"She just messaged me," Amamiya replied, checking his phone. "She's already at the theater, waiting for us."

"Perfect," Umi said, striking a decisive pose with her hand on her hip. "Let's move out!"