"Amamiya-san... was that you?"
Shinomiya Kaguya let out a breath of relief as her eyes fell on Amamiya Natsuki, immediately making a few guesses of her own.
Amamiya Natsuki casually opened his shoe cabinet and took out his slippers. "Do I need to turn myself in now?"
"Please consult the police if you're considering surrender. I'm not particularly informed on the process," Kaguya replied coolly, arms folded in front of her chest, her tone aloof.
If you're going to say that, at least wipe the tears from the corners of your eyes first!
Only Amamiya Natsuki knew the truth: the elegant Miss Kaguya standing before him had been terrified mere seconds ago. The "so scary" she had been repeating in her mind was still fresh. Her current calm was nothing but a facade.
After a brief silence, Kaguya's composure cracked slightly. Perhaps ashamed to ask outright, she bit her lower lip and turned her face slightly, speaking in a near-whisper:
"Amamiya-san... how did you dispel the evil spirit just now?"
As the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family, Kaguya led a strictly regimented life. Her routine—established in elementary school—had remained unchanged even into high school. Drink milk at 9 p.m., read for 30 minutes, rest for 30 minutes, and go to bed at 10 p.m. sharp.
Last night, around 9 p.m., she had just finished bathing and was reading in her pajamas when she was suddenly pulled into the strange game. Her first instinct was that she'd been kidnapped. Spotting Amamiya Natsuki with a rope had immediately put her on high alert.
After clearing the game, her world had changed.
Vengeful spirits began appearing—visible only to her. When she asked Hayasaka about them, her friend laughed and said, "Are you telling ghost jokes now?"
Since then, Kaguya had tried everything—salt, prayers, crosses, Buddhist beads, even garlic—but none of it worked.
These spirits weren't something ordinary humans could resist.
Yet... this boy had driven one away as if it were nothing.
In that moment, Kaguya Shinomiya made up her mind.
I must learn how to exorcise these things... even if it means kidnapping him in a sack!
"It's actually pretty simple," Natsuki replied, completely unaware that he'd just narrowly avoided being bagged, "I got up this morning and opened a blind box..."
He casually explained his 'Evil Spirits Repel' aura, intentionally omitting the detail that he could see prompts. That ability was his alone—there was no need to mention it.
So far, it seemed like he was the only one with the prompt-vision perk.
"I see... a blind box?" Kaguya frowned, her tone laced with cold disapproval. "Relying on blind boxes, full of uncertainty, is no different from gambling. It's an unwise and foolish habit."
Excuse me?
Even if blind boxes are a scam, at least you still get something. Gambling will straight up ruin your life!
And yet—
The next moment, a fist-sized black blind box materialized in Shinomiya Kaguya's hand.
Natsuki's eye twitched.
"…Didn't someone just say buying blind boxes was a foolish habit?!"
You drew one the moment you finished scolding me—where is your dignity as a rich lady?
A hint of red rose on the tips of Kaguya's ears.
Yes, it was a bit shameful, but...
With her intelligence and beauty, she stood at the top of Shuchiin Academy. Her luck couldn't be bad either.
If Amamiya could draw an aura to repel evil spirits, then so could she.
And if she was unlucky and drew a vengeful spirit instead, she could just rely on Amamiya to get rid of it. Simple.
"I'm heading to class first," Natsuki said with a wave, ready to leave.
Blind boxes were private matters. If someone got something amazing, others were bound to get greedy. Best to leave before that happened.
"Don't go."
A small, cold hand grabbed the hem of Natsuki's jacket. Though her expression remained composed, the pink tint on Kaguya's ears betrayed her. She hesitated, then said in a whisper:
"…Wait until I open the blind box."
Amamiya Natsuki paused, then nodded. "Got it."
He stepped back a little to give her space, but remained within the five-meter radius of his 'Evil Spirits Repel' aura.
"Okay..."
Kaguya took a deep breath. Her fingers trembled slightly as she touched the blind box. Her heartbeat quickened.
This feeling... was it anticipation?
Now she understood why blind boxes were so addicting. The thrill and excitement made them irresistible.
Click.
The blind box popped open.
A silver-white card materialized in Kaguya's hand.
Natsuki observed from a distance. The weather was clear, no sudden chill in the air—it didn't seem like a vengeful spirit had been summoned.
"It's not an exorcism ability..." Kaguya said in a disappointed tone. "It's a game card."
"Yu-Gi-Oh?" Natsuki blinked in surprise.
Was she actually lucky enough to pull a Blue-Eyes White Dragon?
"What's Yu-Gi-Oh?"
…You don't know Yu-Gi-Oh?
You don't know Snake either.
Are you seriously a noble young lady who's never played a game in your life?
"It's actually a team card."
[Name: Game Team Card]
[Effect: Use to refresh your game cooldown and team up with another player for the next game.]
Natsuki clicked his tongue.
Yep. Definitely a blind box—you never know what nonsense you'll get.
Kaguya's expression clearly said it all. This was not what she had hoped for.
She looked like she wanted to draw again, but her points were already used up. All she could do was sigh.
"Amamiya-san... thank you."
Kaguya collected herself quickly and gave him a polite bow.
Bang!!
A sudden slap landed on her shoulder.
Then, from behind Kaguya, a girl with pink hair tied in a black bow popped into view. Her fair skin had a healthy blush, her smile was infectious, and the adorable rabbit on her chest bounced with every movement.
"Kaguya, good morning!" Her voice was lively and clear. She turned to Amamiya. "Good morning, Amamiya-san!"
"Morning, Fujiwara-san."
Natsuki nodded in greeting.
Chika Fujiwara.
Another classmate—and Kaguya's close friend. A social butterfly who, in just half a month, had become friends with practically everyone.
"Ah—"
Kaguya let out a startled gasp like a frightened rabbit. Her usual ice queen image shattered on the spot.
"Eh?! Did Kaguya just scream in fear?" Chika asked in wide-eyed surprise.
"I did not!" Kaguya protested, blushing furiously.
Mistake.
A huge mistake.
On a normal day, she'd have been prepared with an elementary-school level "don't scare me from behind" move.
Natsuki's gaze dropped to her right hand.
"Eh?!" Chika's bow bounced as she exclaimed, "Kaguya, the card in your hand—it's on fire!"
"W-What?!"
Kaguya looked down to find the team card spontaneously igniting with blue flames. It burned away in eerie silence, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Then, a deep, hollow voice echoed in Amamiya Natsuki's mind.
[Team formation successful.]
[Instance selected: The Seven Wonders of the Campus.]
[Players, please prepare. The game is about to begin.]
"That's weird..." Chika tilted her head. "Is there... a strange voice in my head?"
The corner of Natsuki's eye twitched.
...Pig teammate detected.