Chapter 341: Instance of Summer Returns

The night deepened, and the lights outside the train windows gradually dwindled until only faint glimmers remained.

Umi shook the milk tea cup lightly, its contents sloshing faintly. Handing it to Amamiya, she leaned in close and whispered into his ear, her tone soft yet insistent:

"Drink the rest of the milk tea."

Amamiya turned his head away, declining immediately. "No. It's too sweet."

"Drink~" Umi's voice turned teasing, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "I just ate so much sushi that my stomach's completely full. I can't drink anymore."

"Then save it for later."

"But holding it makes my hands tired. Just finish it for me. Then I can toss the cup."

"Think of it as an opportunity to strengthen your arms."

"Woo—!"

Umi puffed out her cheeks, leaning even closer. Her warm breath brushed against his skin, carrying a sweet, faintly sugary scent. She put on her best pout, her eyes wide with faux indignation as she whispered, "It's only a few sips. Don't tell me… you're disgusted because I drank from it?"

"I'm not."

"Clearly, you are."

Amamiya's expression shifted as he sat up straight. "If you say so, then I'll have to prove my innocence."

"How do you plan to do that?" Umi's curiosity was piqued.

"It's simple."

Amamiya's gaze dropped ever so slightly, settling on Umi's soft, cherry blossom–pink lips. He leaned in slowly.

"W-Wait!"

Umi's face flushed a vivid red as she realized what he intended. She quickly leaned back, her voice dropping to a hurried whisper. "Not here! Someone might still be awake, hiding in the corner and watching us!"

She glanced around nervously. The idea of being caught in such a situation was mortifying. Besides, the kisses they'd shared before had been strictly for succubus transformation energy, and tonight she wasn't even in her succubus form. There was no way she'd let him kiss her so easily now.

"No kissing. Not now!"

Seeing her retreat, Amamiya sighed theatrically, adopting a forlorn expression. "I see… you really are disgusted with me."

"Huh?"

Umi tilted her head in surprise, her lips parting slightly as she stared at him.

"You are," Amamiya continued with exaggerated gloom.

Umi froze for a moment, then puffed her cheeks again in frustration.

Too much! He's mimicking me—

Her glare sharpened, and before he could say another word, she closed the distance between them. Her soft lips grazed his, delivering a quick, light bite before she pulled back. Raising her chin defiantly, she huffed, "There. If you finish the milk tea, I'll… bite you only once. I keep my promises."

Amamiya held back a laugh, his lips twitching into a small smile. "It's a deal." He picked up the milk tea, inspecting it with mock seriousness. "Maybe I should get some hot water and refill the cup. We could drink it until dawn."

"Drinking until dawn? That's ridiculous!" Umi's face flushed even deeper as she balled her fist and lightly tapped his chest. "There's no more, so don't even think about it!"

Before they realized it, the clock struck eleven.

The carriage had grown quiet, with most passengers either dozing or idly scrolling through their phones. Umi, having napped earlier, was still full of energy. Amamiya, on the other hand, was struggling to stay awake.

The two chatted softly, their voices blending with the faint hum of the train. Eventually, fatigue began to take its toll on Amamiya, and his eyelids grew heavy.

When he opened his eyes again, a faint light filtered through the windows. Dawn had broken, casting the sky in soft hues of blue and gray.

Amamiya glanced down and was greeted by the sight of golden hair spilling across his lap. Umi was still asleep, nestled comfortably in his arms like a cat. Her shallow, rhythmic breathing filled the silence.

A small smile tugged at his lips. Gently, he brushed his fingers through her silky hair, the golden strands glinting faintly in the dawn light.

"Good physical fitness really is important," he mused with quiet humor.

After all, holding a girl who weighed over a hundred pounds in his lap all night would've been torture for anyone else.

"Umi, wake up."

Amamiya checked the time on his phone, then gently nudged the succubus girl cradled in his arms.

"Hmm…"

Umi groaned softly, refusing to stir.

"Kagoshima is coming."

"Mm…"

Still, the girl showed no intention of getting up.

"Quick, wipe your drool."

"…"

Startled, Umi shot upright, brushing a hand to the corner of her lips.

"Impossible! Pretty girls don't drool!"

"…"

At 5:20 a.m., the Shinkansen finally arrived in Kagoshima City.

As the pair stepped off the train, a warm sea breeze greeted them.

Not far from the platform stretched the vast blue sea. It was summer, and even at this early hour, the sky had already brightened. Seabirds wheeled above the gently rippling waters in the distance.

"...This feels amazing!"

Umi spread her arms wide, welcoming the sea breeze. Her skirt and hair swayed gently, framing her radiant smile—brighter than the morning sun.

Click.

Amamiya quietly snapped a photo with his phone.

Some moments in life are so beautiful they beg to be captured forever.

"I didn't realize how exhausting sitting for so long could be." Umi began stretching on the beach. "Now my whole body feels stiff."

Amamiya sighed. "I should be the one saying that."

After all, I'm the one who had you sitting on me all night.

"The sea's gorgeous in the morning. I want to swim," Umi said, her tone wistful as she stretched.

Shimizu, silent until now, emerged from Amamiya's shadow. Her ghostly figure gazed at the sea. "Amamiya, I want to swim too. I want to wear a swimsuit and eat watermelon."

Amamiya shot her a deadpan look.

You're a ghost. How exactly do you plan to do any of that?

"It's almost time to move on," he said, turning back to Umi. "Let's get breakfast first."

At the mention of food, Umi's energy surged. "My dad said Kagoshima has some amazing breakfasts. Let's go see if any of the places are open yet!"

Kagoshima lies at the southernmost tip of Kyushu Island. Centuries ago, Dutch settlers introduced Java deer to the region for their meat, giving the city its name. Despite its stunning scenery, Kagoshima's geographic conditions are challenging. With mountainous terrain, frequent earthquakes, and limited arable land, the economy relies heavily on tourism and fishing.

Umi's father worked as a supervisor for a travel company, managing various operations in Kagoshima. His demanding job and the long commute home meant he only visited twice a year.

"After breakfast, we can surprise Dad at work!" Umi said excitedly, counting off the plan on her fingers.

"Wait." Amamiya raised an eyebrow. "Does your dad even know you're here?"

Umi grinned sheepishly, sticking out her tongue. "Hehe~ Nope!"

It was the trio's first visit to Kagoshima, and with tourism being a major industry, signposts were abundant, making it easy to navigate. After breakfast, the streets gradually grew livelier as the sun climbed higher into the sky.

"My dad just texted me," Umi said, waving her phone. "He's busy today and headed to Sakurajima for work."

Amamiya nodded, glancing at a guide map. "Sakurajima isn't far. It's a volcanic island in the sea. We'll need to take a ferry to get there."

At the port, they found a four-story ferry docked at the pier, bustling with tourists boarding and disembarking. Tickets were surprisingly cheap—only 200(*$1.2) yen.

Once aboard, Amamiya and Umi made their way to the observation deck at the top. From there, the view was breathtaking: the boundless azure sea merged seamlessly with the sky, creating a stunning, tranquil panorama.

Click, click.

Umi enthusiastically snapped photos with her phone, her excitement evident in her cheerful movements. Suddenly, she smacked her forehead.

"Oh! I just remembered—didn't Takaki go to high school in Kagoshima in 5 Centimeters per Second?"

"It was Tanegashima," Amamiya corrected, checking his phone. "It's a bit far from here."

"Ah, so far? Forget it then." Umi pouted, a trace of regret in her voice. "If it were closer, I'd love to visit and explore."

Amamiya smirked. "If you don't mind sleeping through class on Monday, we can stay until tomorrow."

"Pfft! I don't care at all!" Umi raised her hands dramatically, tilting her chin up in mock defiance. "Sensei, I'm sorry! I worked so hard to come to Kagoshima; please forgive me!"

"It's way too early to be asking for forgiveness," Amamiya retorted with a chuckle.

As they talked, the ferry steadily moved forward, its wake leaving a trail of frothy white waves in the sea.

When they passed an unnamed island along the way, a cold, mechanical voice abruptly echoed in Amamiya's mind:

[You have triggered a new dungeon instance.]

[Name: Summer Reappearance]

[Type: Multiplayer]

[Difficulty: Unknown]

[You have automatically joined the instance. Please wait patiently for it to open. The instance is expected to open within a month.]

[You will receive a notification 48 hours before the instance opens. Please ensure you are at the designated location.]

"Eh?"

Umi turned around abruptly, her startled expression confirming she had received the same notification.

Amamiya nodded slightly, signaling her to stay calm, then discreetly glanced around.

The ferry was bustling with tourists—some taking photos, others chatting or playing games. Everyone appeared perfectly ordinary. No one looked suspicious, and it was impossible to tell if anyone else had received the same message.

Amamiya took Umi's hand and led her to a quiet corner of the deck.

"Amamiya, did you get the game notification just now?" Umi whispered, standing on tiptoe to speak closer.

"I did," Amamiya replied calmly.

Umi frowned, biting her lip. "It's only been two weeks since we cleared the Ghost Town instance, and now this happens. How unlucky…" She sighed, her tone tinged with guilt. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't wanted to visit Dad, we wouldn't have triggered this dungeon."

"How can you be sure we wouldn't have triggered it in Tokyo?" Amamiya ruffled her hair gently. "As players, encountering dungeon instances is inevitable. When they come, we clear them. That's all there is to it."

Umi nodded, though her pout lingered. She pulled out her phone. "The instance is called Summer Reappearance. What a weird name… I'm going to ask if anyone else has encountered it."

The player mutual aid group, founded by Chika, had grown to include over a hundred members. It had become a structured, supportive community.

Life as a player wasn't easy. The real world was plagued with supernatural dangers, and managing everyday life alongside game responsibilities was a constant struggle.

However, the group offered two critical benefits:

First was access to resources, including game items, props, and survival tools—often sold by wealthier players at high prices.

Second, Trust.

In the world of dungeon instances, trust was rare and invaluable. Strangers couldn't be trusted, especially in scenarios where monsters could disguise themselves as players. In desperate situations, survival often came down to outrunning others rather than the monsters themselves.

But the mutual aid group allowed players to build a foundation of trust through offline interactions. This made cooperation in dungeon instances far smoother, as pre-established bonds could mean the difference between life and death.

"Well, no one in the group has encountered Summer Reappearance before," Umi reported after scrolling through messages. She pursed her lips. "So far, it's just the two of us."

"Not surprising," Amamiya replied evenly. "If someone had encountered it before, they would've mentioned it by now."

As he spoke, Amamiya felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. A message from Chika popped up:

"Amamiya, did you and Umi-chan trigger a dungeon?"

Amamiya replied: "Yes. We just got a notification for an instance called Summer Reappearance."

Chika's response was immediate:

"A new dungeon? I'll call Kaguya-chan to see if she's free. If she can't come, I'll fly over myself. No way am I missing this anti-gangster mission!"

"Don't worry," Amamiya reassured her. "The instance won't open for another month."

"That's good. That gives me plenty of time to prepare."

Just as Amamiya finished messaging Chika, another notification arrived—this time from Hayasaka:

"Senpai, I saw the group chat. Did you trigger a dungeon?"

"Yes."

"In Kagoshima, right? Ugh, it's so far away. What a pain to get there!"

"You don't have to come," Amamiya replied flatly.

"Senpai! That's so mean! I messaged you the moment I saw the news, and you say I shouldn't come? I'm angry now! I'm definitely coming!"

"…"

In a distant location, Hayasaka crunched her lollipop in annoyance, glancing at Kaguya, who had just woken up and was blissfully unaware of the situation.

Last time, Hayasaka had been trapped in an alternate dimension, and everyone else had to come to her rescue. She felt a deep sense of guilt for failing her duties as a protector.

This time, no matter what, she was determined to fulfill her role properly.