Chapter 322: No need for breast pads or anything like that!

"From today onward, we'll take turns tossing the coin." 

Chika raised a finger, her expression serious. 

"Rights and responsibilities go hand in hand. In short, we can't just enjoy the benefits without taking on the burden." 

Simply put, there's no gain without pain. 

If one person keeps charging the coin's energy while another enjoys the first toss every time, it's only natural for resentment to build over time. 

"Agreed." 

Umi crossed her fingers and added in a firm tone: 

"Fairness is key—fair, fair, and fair!" 

"For example, if Chika-chan, Kaguya-san, and I worked hard to charge the coin with luck, and then Amamiya gets to toss it first every time, it's like he's freeloading. It feels off." 

"I apologize," Amamiya said, raising his right hand. "I have a sensitive stomach, so I'm more suited to softer tasks." 

"Smack~!" 

The secretary ignored his attempt at humor and continued, "Let's discuss the order of who gets to toss the coin." 

"The order doesn't have to be fixed," Kaguya interjected calmly. "We can arrange it based on everyone's availability. We could use a notebook to record who tosses the coin and when. That way, we can analyze the pattern. If the amount of luck absorbed per toss is consistent, then the number of recharges should also follow a predictable pattern." 

"Not during class, though," Chika added. "It's best not to disturb others while tossing the coin." 

Umi propped her chin on her hand. "Lunch breaks are out too. If I sneeze while eating and it lands on someone else, that's a whole other problem." 

"After school in the afternoon seems like the best time," someone suggested. 

"…" 

The three girls discussed the matter thoroughly and quickly finalized the rules. 

"I'll go first after school," Kaguya concluded. "I need to head home early for my tea ceremony class." 

With the discussion settled, the group left the game club room and headed back to class. 

Amamiya walked to his desk, set down his schoolbag, pulled out a chair, and sat down. He turned to look out the window. 

The sky was clear, and the air was crisp. 

It was a sunny day. 

On the playground, seven or eight strange, otherworldly spirits wandered around, blending in with the students who were casually hanging out. 

Another calm and peaceful day. 

Morning passed quickly, and before long, it was lunchtime. 

"Want to eat on the rooftop?" 

Amamiya pulled out his phone and sent a message to Chika. 

"No," she replied almost instantly. "The teacher asked me to stop by the office. I'll eat lunch with my friends afterward." 

Rejected. 

Amamiya had expected this response and wasn't too bothered. He pocketed his phone and decided to head out to buy some bread for lunch. 

Just as he stepped out of the classroom, his phone vibrated again. 

Pulling it out, he saw another message from Chika: 

"We can talk about the rooftop tomorrow." 

Amamiya: "You have to keep your word. No take-backs." 

Chika: "I won't go back on it." 

"…" 

After buying his bread, Amamiya was on his way back to the classroom when he suddenly spotted Chika hurrying down the corridor toward him. 

"Amamiya-kun!" 

Spotting Amamiya, Chika's eyes lit up. She hurried over, taking two quick steps before handing him a carton of milk. 

"Here, take this." 

Amamiya raised the milk in his hand and replied, "I already bought one." 

"The milk isn't for you to drink," Chika clarified. "I just met a friend who told me there's a stray cat on campus near the pavilion at the northeast corner of the school. It looked really pitiful." 

She continued, "I was planning to feed it myself, but I just got a message asking me to fill out a report. I have cat food and milk here, so Amamiya-kun, could you please feed the cat for me?" 

Amamiya sighed. "So, I'm the one feeding the cat? Sounds dull." 

Chika pouted slightly. "I'll treat you to something next time, okay?" 

Amamiya raised a brow. "By the way, they don't sell cat food at school. Where did you get this?" 

"My friend's part of a small animal rescue group," Chika explained. "She had some extra and passed it to me since she was busy too. That's all." 

"Got it." 

Amamiya took the cat food and milk, said his goodbyes to Chika, and headed to the northeast corner of the school. 

The private Shuchi'in Academy shares a campus between its junior high and high school divisions. The pavilion was situated right between the two areas, making it a common spot for both groups of students. 

Following the directions, Amamiya soon reached the pavilion and heard a faint meow. Scanning the area, he finally spotted a small stray cat hiding behind a flower bed nearby. 

The cat wasn't very big—clearly still a kitten—and its fur was remarkably beautiful. Whether it had been abandoned or lost was unclear, but it didn't seem particularly shy. 

Amamiya set the cat food in a small box, poured the milk, and then sat nearby, pulling out his bread to eat. 

After a while, the stray cat cautiously relaxed its guard and approached to eat. 

One person and one cat quietly enjoyed lunch together. 

"Hey, Amamiya-kun?" 

A familiar voice suddenly interrupted. 

Looking up, Amamiya saw a short-haired girl he hadn't seen in a while. 

"Kashiwagi-san." 

Beside her was another girl walking casually. She had striking blue eyes, golden hair tied into a side ponytail, a school uniform jacket tied loosely around her waist, and a lollipop in her mouth. She gave off the vibe of a stereotypical campus "it girl." 

For some reason, Amamiya couldn't shake the feeling that this girl looked oddly familiar. 

"Amamiya-kun, are you feeding the cat?" 

Kashiwagi approached and knelt slightly to get a closer look at the stray. 

"It's Chika's idea," Amamiya explained, keeping his tone nonchalant. 

"This cat's so cute," Kashiwagi said with a smile. "Can I pet it?" 

"It's not up to me," Amamiya replied. "You'll have to ask the cat." 

Kashiwagi giggled and crouched down. Supporting her knees with both hands, she called softly, "Meow~ Can I pet you?" 

The kitten, busy devouring its meal, completely ignored her. 

Amamiya glanced briefly at the scene but soon turned his attention elsewhere. The girl playing with the cat didn't interest him as much as the golden-haired girl standing nearby. 

"Have we met before?" 

He directed the question toward the blonde girl, his curiosity piqued. 

(Has my identity been compromised?) 

Hayasaka's expression didn't falter, but her thoughts raced. 

Stay calm. 

No slip-ups. 

A good spy operates under the radar. Whether in movies or real life, exposure meant the game was up. 

"Pop~" 

Hayasaka pulled the lollipop from her mouth with a soft sound, took half a step back, and covered her chest dramatically. 

"Is Natsuki-san trying to flirt with me?" she teased. 

"Sorry, but I'll have to decline." 

She twirled the lollipop in her fingers and continued with mock seriousness, "Such an old-school pickup line. Not my type at all." 

"…" 

Hearing their exchange, Kashiwagi turned back and intervened. 

"Her name's Hasaka Ai," she explained. "She's in the class next to ours. We came here to eat lunch together today... Amamiya-kun must have seen her around and remembered, right?" 

"After all, Hayasaka-san is cute," Kashiwagi added with a grin. 

He wasn't sure if it was cute, but the sense of familiarity grew stronger. 

A cool breeze swept through. 

A faint fragrance drifted from the girl,.carried by the wind to Amamiya's nose. 

The scent was unmistakably familiar—sweet and citrusy. 

"This scent… I've smelled it before." 

Amamiya sniffed lightly, glancing at Hayasaka. He raised an eyebrow, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. 

It was just like on Saturday when a girl had pinned him down under her skirt… 

"Warning. Natsuki-san's behavior is now officially perverted." 

The girl immediately stepped back, holding her skirt and eyeing him warily. Her tone was flat, but her words were sharp. 

"I'm sorry, but this is making me uncomfortable. I suggest Natsuki-san invest in an after-school course on how to properly approach girls." 

"Ahem," Kashiwagi coughed awkwardly to break the tension. "Don't take it too seriously, Amamiya-kun. Hasaka-san is just the type to complain about people." 

The short-haired girl sat down beside Amamiya, lowering her voice conspiratorially. 

"Amamiya-kun, don't approach Hasaka-san casually. If Shinomiya-san finds out, she'll be furious." 

"I'm not afraid," Amamiya replied, taking a bite of his bread. "A guy has to have courage. Even if Kaguya were here, I'd still approach whoever I wanted, right in front of her." 

Kashiwagi smirked, pulling out her phone. "Oh, is that so? Say it again, Amamiya-kun. I'll record it for posterity." 

"I'm sorry. I take it back. Please put your phone away." 

"…" 

After finishing his bread, Amamiya pulled out his phone, snapped a photo of the stray cat, and sent it to Chika. 

Just as he was about to leave, a surprised voice called out. 

"Hey, Senpai!" 

Amamiya turned toward the voice and saw a junior high school girl with twin ponytails jogging toward him. It was none other than Moeha, whom he'd encountered just the day before. 

"My seat is by the window. When I was eating my lunch in the classroom, I happened to look outside and saw you feeding the cat," Moeha said brightly. "Senpai, you're such a kind person!" 

Sorry, you've got the wrong idea. 

This was all your sister's doing. 

If it weren't for her, who would be out here feeding stray cats? 

Chika had already given strict instructions not to reveal her involvement, along with orders to keep their relationship under wraps. Amamiya stayed true to his word and didn't mention her. He clapped his hands lightly and said, "Now that I've eaten, I should head back to class." 

"Wait, Senpai!" Moeha suddenly mustered her courage, her cheeks slightly flushed. "Thank you for helping me the other day. I prepared a small thank-you gift for you, but I forgot to bring it down in my rush… Um, could we exchange contact information?" 

It was hard to refuse such a genuine gesture and a simple, reasonable request. 

Amamiya nodded, taking out his phone. 

Stare. 

A pair of eyes bore into him. 

Turning around, Amamiya saw Hayasaka watching him intently, her expression unreadable, her eyes half-lidded. 

What's with that look? 

I'm just exchanging contact information with a junior high schooler. Don't act like I'm some kind of creep! 

The contact exchange was completed without incident. 

"Thank you, Senpai," Moeha said, slipping her phone into her pocket. She smiled happily, gazing at the stray cat for a moment before waving goodbye. "I'll be heading back now." 

"Mm." 

After this brief encounter, Amamiya bid Kashiwagi farewell. He shot one last glance at the blonde girl whose familiarity still tugged at him, then turned and left. 

---

Second period, afternoon: 

Swimming lessons. 

As the weather warmed up, summer swimming classes were back in session—a universally loved course, without a doubt. 

Watching the students head to the swimming pool in groups of two or three, Kaguya crossed her arms in front of her chest. Her beautiful face was partially hidden in the shadow of the curtains, and her voice carried a cold, almost nocturnal timbre. 

"Swimming lessons… I just don't understand why everyone is so excited about them." 

A voice chimed in from behind her. 

"Well, boys are shallow creatures, after all." 

Hayasaka, sporting her signature golden side ponytail, had a school jacket tied loosely around her waist and a lollipop in her mouth. She sauntered over from behind a partition without Kaguya noticing, one hand on her hip. 

"Miss, you have to be more understanding. For these boys, swimming alongside the beauties of the school is probably the highlight of their entire lives." 

Kaguya frowned. "Amamiya-kun isn't like that." 

Hayasaka raised an eyebrow. "Tsk, are you sure about that?" 

"Anyway," Kaguya huffed, "Amamiya-kun would never behave that way." 

He's someone who only sees the beauty in the one he loves. But he also has the nerve to use his wife as leverage to manipulate other girls. How could someone like him be considered a "good person"? 

Hayasaka smirked, her pretty face turning slightly away. "Well, whatever you say, Miss." 

After a pause, she added, "Swimming class is about to start. Aren't you going to change into your swimsuit?" 

Kaguya hesitated for a moment before muttering under her breath, "My stomach hurts. I don't feel like going to swimming class." 

Hayasaka, still nibbling on her lollipop, replied matter-of-factly, "If you skip without a proper reason, it'll count as ditching class." 

"Then I'll say my stomach hurts!" Kaguya protested, biting her lower lip. She clutched her chest with one hand and groaned dramatically. "I'll be laughed at during swimming class! I can handle anyone else, but I don't want him to look down on me!" 

As the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family, Kaguya prided herself on being the school's genius. Her academic performance, beauty, and intelligence were unmatched—impeccable, even. 

But there was one area that made her falter. 

Her chest. 

She hated to admit it, but it was undeniable. 

Kaguya could claim, with reluctant pride, that among the 18 girls in her class, she ranked second to last in terms of breast size. And the only reason she wasn't dead last was because no one dared challenge her position. 

The school swimsuit only made things worse. With its slimming effect, wearing it flattened her figure to the point where it was nearly impossible to tell the front from the back. 

Before, as the cold and unapproachable "Kaguya-hime," she hadn't cared what others thought. 

But now… 

She cared. She cared a lot. 

The mere thought of Amamiya shaking his head and sighing in disappointment made her stomach churn. 

Hayasaka, of course, knew exactly what Kaguya was thinking. She'd come to understand her master mindset all too well. 

"Miss, didn't you just say Amamiya-kun isn't a superficial person?" Hayasaka asked, her tone playful. 

"T-that has nothing to do with being superficial…" Kaguya stammered. "It's just… instinct!" 

Hayasaka folded her arms across her chest and smirked. 

"Speaking of instinct, boys have one that's even stronger." 

"...What are you talking about?" 

"As long as a girl is cute, they don't care about the rest," Hayasaka said with a teasing grin, holding up a single finger. "Even if she's flat-chested, boys will still like her if she's adorable enough." 

Kaguya blinked, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. "I-Is that really true?" 

"It's the universal truth of all male creatures," Hayasaka declared confidently. Then, shifting gears, she pulled a small item from her schoolbag. "But if you're still worried, Miss, you could try these bra pads. They're breathable, soft, and super comfy. They add a little lift, and no one will even notice." 

She gave a thumbs-up. "Everyone who's tried them swears by them!" 

"You're the one who used them!" Kaguya shot back. 

She reached out to take the pads but hesitated halfway, pulling her hand back. Shaking her head vigorously, she muttered, "No… this kind of thing is fake. And what happens if I have to take off my swimsuit? It'll be obvious!" 

Hayasaka gasped theatrically. 

"Wait—has the young lady decided to seduce Amamiya-kun by taking her clothes off?!" 

"Absolutely NOT!" Kaguya shouted, her face burning bright red. "Who would do something so indecent?!" 

"Sure, sure," Hayasaka said breezily, clearly enjoying herself. "Anyway, if we don't head to the pool now, we'll be late." 

Kaguya took a deep breath, summoning her resolve. Finally, she gritted her teeth and declared, "…Fine. I'll go to swimming class!" 

---

At the same time, Amamiya had arrived at the swimming pool, changed into his swimming trunks, and was waiting for class to begin. 

From elementary school onward, swimming classes were conducted for both boys and girls, regardless of gender. Of course, the pool itself was divided into separate lanes for boys and girls, ensuring they weren't all crammed together. Generally, boys formed one group and girls another. The swimming pool was quite large, allowing for multiple classes to take place simultaneously. 

Just as it was nearing class time, Kaguya quietly emerged from the direction of the locker room. 

Amamiya was the first to spot the aloof young lady. 

The dark blue swimsuit clung snugly to her skin, accentuating her slender figure. 

Her hair was tied back and wrapped under a swimming cap, leaving her smooth forehead exposed. 

Her fair skin was so luminous and delicate, it seemed to shimmer under the sunlight. 

Amamiya's gaze unconsciously swept downward, pausing briefly at the flat expanse of her chest. His lips parted in a barely audible sigh. 

From where he was standing, the angle gave him a clear side view of Kaguya. From that perspective—and at a bit of a distance—it was genuinely difficult to distinguish her front from her back. 

She was cute, no doubt about it. But she was also, undeniably, flat. 

Did he just sigh? 

No, he definitely sighed!

Kaguya, noticing Amamiya from the corner of her eye, quickly glanced his way. Unfortunately for her already fragile confidence, she caught him sighing at that exact moment. Her jaw clenched so hard she almost ground her teeth. 

As they waited, Amamiya overheard a group of boys nearby excitedly whispering among themselves. 

"Look, it's Tsubame-senpai!" 

"Tsubame-senpai! My goddess!" 

"Her skin is so fair, and her figure just keeps getting better." 

Mixed in with their gushing admiration were some… questionable remarks. 

"I'd give anything to have Tsubame-senpai step on me—hard." 

"Same here. Trample me, goddess!" 

Wait a minute. Did these guys just admit to thinking alike on that?! 

Suppressing a shudder, Amamiya followed their gaze to where Tsubame Koyasu stood. She was another of the school's well-known figures, often referred to as the "Campus Goddess." Like Kaguya, she was a celebrity on campus, but with her warm, cheerful demeanor and sociable personality, she had far more friends. To many, she was the ideal girl. 

And in terms of physique, well… 

There was no competition. 

With a simple visual estimate, Amamiya figured that Tsubame could outmatch Kaguya tenfold in that department. 

The disparity between people could sometimes be painfully cruel.

——

Kaguya, glancing over at Amamiya only to find him staring at Tsubame Koyasu along with the other boys, felt a sharp pang of frustration. Her expression darkened immediately. 

Hayasaka was right. I was wrong. Boys are such shallow creatures. All they care about is breasts! No exceptions!