Chapter 335: I Help You Conquer Myself!

At the same time, on the other side of campus:

"Amamiya-kun, how about we stop by the café for a bit?" Tsubame asked, her expectant eyes shimmering with a hint of mischief.

Amamiya glanced at her and replied dryly, "Senpai, do you want to have another Evil Spirit Repellent?"

"Of course!" Tsubame admitted without hesitation. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, revealing the smooth curve of her pale, graceful neck. "That skill is super effective. It's just a shame it can only be used once. I was hoping for another chance to ward off evil spirits. When I opened a blind box this morning, I prayed hard for something good… and all I got was a pair of stockings!"

She sighed dramatically, her frustration evident. "Honestly, what's the point of stockings?"

Amamiya raised a brow and quipped, "If prayers worked, who would need luck?"

"Huh?"

"I once picked up an item in a dungeon that temporarily boosts luck," Amamiya explained, taking out a small, shiny object. "It's called the Coin of Destiny. I tested it, and it works."

He handed the coin to Tsubame, who inspected it curiously.

Luck couldn't be seen or touched, and yet...

"Luck, huh?" Tsubame mused, her interest piqued. "Does it really exist?"

Amamiya's gaze shifted to an evil spirit wandering nearby. He lowered his voice.

"To most people, evil spirits are invisible and intangible. Does that mean they don't exist?"

"Fair point," Tsubame conceded, clasping her hands together as a playful smile formed. "Still, I've never been lucky. From scratch tickets to giveaways, I've never won a thing—not even a consolation prize." She stuck out her tongue. "Maybe luck just isn't my thing."

Amamiya regarded her thoughtfully.

"That's because you've already used your luck in other ways."

"Eh? Like what?"

"Take a look at yourself. You're beautiful, you've got a great figure, plenty of friends, you're popular at school, and you come from a loving family. Meanwhile, there are other girls who, despite their cute looks, don't have a good figure, no friends, and no luck at all."

Tsubame crossed her arms, her curves accentuated, and gave him a bemused smile. "Hmph. I'll take that as a compliment. But your words feel oddly familiar."

"Just your imagination," Amamiya replied innocently.

"Why don't you repeat all that to Shinomiya-san?" she teased. "I'm sure she'd be thrilled to hear it."

Thrilled? Kaguya would likely drag him to Tokyo Bay and happily toss them both into the water.

"Amamiya-kun, let me toss that coin." Tsubame raised her hand with a gleam in her eye.

It was hard for anyone to resist the allure of good fortune.

"It's not that simple," Amamiya warned, proceeding to explain the hidden rules tied to the Coin of Destiny. "So, knowing that, do you still want to try?"

Tsubame hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. "Maybe not. I'd rather not risk something embarrassing happening in public... Let's do it at the gymnastics club tomorrow."

As they chatted, the two made their way to a cozy café on the corner.

The rain had cleared, leaving the air fresh and crisp. Inside, the café was quiet, the warm lighting complemented by the soft strains of piano music.

"Let's sit in the corner," Tsubame suggested, her cheeks faintly tinged with pink. She leaned closer to Amamiya and whispered, "It's dim there, so we won't stand out."

Amamiya raised a brow, his tone laced with subtle amusement. "Senpai, you seem very… experienced with this."

"Excuse me?" Tsubame puffed her cheeks indignantly and lightly smacked his shoulder. "What do you mean by 'experienced'? I just come here often with friends, that's all!"

"My apologies, Senpai. Please forgive me."

"Hmph."

Tsubame placed her hands behind her back, walking to a table in the corner. As Amamiya moved to sit on the opposite side, she reached out and tugged his sleeve. Her blush deepened as she murmured, "Sit next to me."

Sitting across the table would make certain things inconvenient… like holding hands under the table.

"Alright."

Amamiya complied, taking a seat beside her. The faint, sweet fragrance of her perfume filled the air.

After placing their order, a brief silence fell as the waiter left. The comfortable quiet was accompanied by the gentle hum of the café's ambiance.

Amamiya decided to act quickly. With rain looming on the horizon, he turned around and said calmly:

"Senpai, give me your hand."

Tsubame froze, momentarily speechless.

With her lips slightly pursed and her face flushed red, she hesitated before extending her hand toward him.

What happened next was straightforward and uneventful. The required five minutes of hand-holding passed without incident, and the skill transfer was successfully completed.

Afterward, Amamiya and Tsubame finished their coffee and went their separate ways.

By 9 p.m., the day had slipped into a quiet evening.

The doorbell rang on time.

"Good evening, Senpai."

Standing outside was a lively schoolgirl dressed in a sailor uniform. Her posture leaned forward slightly, revealing a delicate collarbone, while her bright smile seemed to illuminate the dim night.

"Good evening." Amamiya turned and walked back into the house. "Come in."

"Senpai, did you miss Hanamori today?"

Hayasaka's voice was as clear as ever. She sat down beside him and placed a small box on the table.

"Senpai, I brought you some egg tarts. The desserts from this place are incredible. You have to try them."

"We'll discuss that later. Let's talk business first," Amamiya said, his tone even. "Did you finish preparing your speech?"

"Almost there," Hayasaka replied, raising her hand in a casual gesture. "I promise to have it done by tomorrow."

"Good work."

"Senpai, are you saying Hanamori is working hard?" She leaned closer, her pretty face tilting slightly, the curve of her slender neck catching the light. "Then as a reward, feed Hanamori one of those egg tarts."

Without a word, Amamiya picked up one of the pastries and held it out to her.

After taking a small bite, Hayasaka narrowed her eyes playfully.

"There's something else," Amamiya began, his voice calm but probing. "How would you suggest improving the favorability of a girl with a cold personality?"

"Huh?"

Hayasaka froze, her eyes widening.

What did that mean?

A girl with a cold personality… Could he be talking about her?

No, that didn't seem likely.

Still, she decided to test the waters.

"You're asking me that out of the blue?!" She clenched her fists, her expression feigning indignation. "Could it be that Senpai is seeing someone else behind my back?"

"We're not dating, so that's not possible," Amamiya replied flatly.

"You're already cheating, and you still deny it! Senpai, you're the type who gets punched for saying things like that."

"I accept the accusation," he admitted with a small shrug. "But just tell me the answer."

"I don't know." Hayasaka huffed and turned away in mock anger. "Even if I did, I wouldn't tell you… Who's this girl you're after anyway? Is she cuter than Hanamori?"

"She's a schoolmate of mine," Amamiya said, leaning back in his chair as if lost in thought. His tone softened as he continued, "Blonde hair, side ponytail, always eating lollipops… I noticed her on the first day of school. That morning, in early April, she was leaning on the railing, her chin resting on her hand as she looked at the scenery. I happened to pass by below, and the image has been etched in my mind ever since."

Hayasaka: "..."

Blonde hair? Side ponytail? Lollipops?

There was no mistaking it. He was talking about her.

Was his earlier confession of love in the infirmary real?

Could this man truly have feelings for her?

But something about it felt off.

Since the start of school, he had never approached her, never left a love letter in her locker, never done anything to suggest he felt that way. If it were love at first sight, why hadn't he made any moves before now?

Another possibility came to mind: perhaps he had discovered her true identity and was toying with her on purpose.

But that couldn't be it!

Even her Miss hadn't seen through her disguise. There was no way someone like Amamiya could figure it out!

"I've never spoken about this before," Amamiya sighed, his voice carrying a hint of melancholy. "But two days ago, I had a moment of clarity while in the sage state. Life is full of regrets. You never know what will come first—tomorrow or an accident. For players like us, the future is even more uncertain."

He paused, his gaze distant.

"That's why, when you fall for someone at first sight, you should follow your heart. Pursue them bravely, and leave no regrets."

Hayasaka: "..."

Why was this suddenly turning into such a solemn monologue?

Wasn't this the same guy who threatened children in the Ghost Story Town with their moms just days ago?

Others might attain enlightenment under a Bodhi tree, but Amamiya seemed to find his wisdom beneath a girl's skirt.

And yet… his words weren't entirely wrong.

Each dungeon was a gamble, and not everyone made it out alive. The game was far from a safe fantasy. The uncertainty of the future was an undeniable truth.

"Follow your heart?"

Hayasaka bit her lower lip and hesitated for a few seconds before whispering:

"Even though I'm not happy about this, since it's your request, I'll do it. Even if I have to hold back my tears, I won't refuse."

Amamiya glanced at her skeptically.

You claim you're upset, but where are the tears?

Hayasaka continued, her tone slightly more playful:

"Senpai, why don't you try inviting her out for dessert? No girl can resist sweets."

"Got it," Amamiya replied with a nod. "Now, hold still. I'll cast the Evil Spirit Repellent spell on you first."

"Hmph."

"Are you tossing the coin today?"

"Not only did my Senpai cheat on me, but now he's also making Hanamori help with his schemes. I feel so wronged I could cry. How could I possibly focus on that?"

"Fair point," Amamiya nodded in agreement. "Once the Evil Spirit Repellent skill got copied you can leave."

Hayasaka clenched her fists in frustration. "Senpai, if you keep this up, you'll lose me!"

"…"

Once the Evil Spirit Repellent was copied, Hayasaka stormed off in mock anger.

"Goodbye, Senpai."

"Hanamori doesn't want to see you again!"

Amamiya, unfazed, called after her:

"Don't forget about the speech tomorrow."

"Senpai, you're the worst!"

The spy maid lightly punched Amamiya's chest twice before turning and running off.

Once outside, Hayasaka's irritated expression vanished. Calmly, she pulled out her phone, unlocked the screen, and switched to her backup account.

Blonde hair, side ponytail, loves lollipops… It's probably me—90% chance.

But the school's big; there might be someone else with those traits.

The easiest way to confirm it is to see if I get a message later...

Ding.

An unread notification popped up on her screen.

Amamiya: "Hasaka-san, are you free tomorrow afternoon? Let's grab some dessert together."

Confirmed.

So, he really was talking about her.

Hayasaka pressed her phone to her chest, her lips curling into a small smile.

Life is short.

If you don't want regrets, you should follow your heart.

Should she accept the invitation tomorrow?

Meanwhile, Amamiya, waiting for Hayasaka's reply, shrugged when no response came and turned his attention elsewhere. He sent a message to Miko.

"When should I come over?"

Miko: "Don't come. I'm sleeping alone tonight."

Amamiya: "What if an evil spirit shows up under the bed?"

Miko: "Not my problem!"

"…"

After her firm refusal, Miko decided to stay home, determined to protect her dignity. As for the evil spirits, she resolved to simply ignore them—just as she had always done when sleeping alone.

After chatting with Miko, Amamiya checked other unread messages.

Umi: "Finally back. I worked so much today that my shoulders hurt."

Amamiya: "Did you see the scythe-wielding evil spirit on the way?"

Umi: "Nope. It must've forgotten me."

"Don't let your guard down."

"I know~"

Suddenly, a video call request popped up.

Amamiya accepted it.

In the video, Umi appeared with a white towel wrapped around her head, leaning back in a bubble-filled bathtub. Her delicate collar bone peeked through the water.

"My hands are wet, so texting is annoying. A video call is easier," Umi said casually, her eyes meeting his. "Tomorrow's Thursday. What time are we leaving, Amamiya?"

"Your father's in Kagoshima, right? That's far. Let's leave Friday after school," Amamiya replied after a moment's thought.

Kagoshima Prefecture was in Kyushu, the southernmost part of Japan—over a thousand kilometers from Tokyo. It was a long journey, and Umi's father only came home twice a year: during New Year's and Obon.

"What's the plan for getting there?" Umi asked.

"We'll fly."

Umi hesitated, her expression faltering. "Um…"

"Just say it," Amamiya prompted. "Being hesitant doesn't suit you."

"I… don't want to fly," Umi admitted, hugging her knees. "Can we take the Shinkansen(*Bullet Train) instead?"

"You'd have to transfer," Amamiya pointed out.

"So? It's just a transfer." Umi looked at him pleadingly. "The time difference isn't that big, and I'd feel safer."

Amamiya studied her. "You're afraid of flying, aren't you?"

"I'm not the only one!" Umi muttered defensively. "Lots of people are scared of flying. When I was a kid, I watched a plane crash horror movie with my dad, and it scarred me. I still remember it vividly."

"You're addicted to tormenting yourself, huh?"

"I only watched it because my dad was there," she protested weakly. "I wouldn't watch horror movies alone!"

Amamiya relented with a sigh. "Fine. We'll take the Shinkansen on Friday afternoon."

"Yay!"

"…"

After finalizing their travel plans, the two chatted for a while longer before Umi reluctantly ended the call.

By 11 p.m., rain began drizzling outside.

Amamiya had just laid down but wasn't yet asleep when his phone vibrated.

It was a message from Miko.

"Open the door. Let's sleep together!"