Kaguya's slim figure was easy to carry, and despite being called the "Ice Queen," she was soft and delicate in Kanade Natsukawa's arms. Even her warm breath brushed against him with a faint, unique fragrance.
"Apologies, it's an emergency…" Kanade mumbled awkwardly.
He felt a little guilty.
With a monstrous pursuer hot on their heels and the tension high, how could he still be distracted by something like this? He felt like one of those gamers who, mid-competition, got sidetracked by a flirtatious text from their girlfriend.
Focus on your teammate's condition, not your secondary priorities!
But he couldn't help it. Even though he tried to hold Kaguya farther from his body, his arms could only extend so far. Any farther, and he wouldn't have the strength to carry her properly.
Ah, I wasn't calm enough back there.
In hindsight, he shouldn't have rushed to pick her up. Carrying her on his back would've been much more practical.
Now he had a different problem—not only was Kaguya glaring daggers at him with her icy gaze, but he also had no idea how to open the next door while holding her.
"Kaguya, the door…"
As they approached the first door, Kanade could only remind the girl in his arms. He planned to put her down briefly, check the room, and pick her back up to keep running.
But before he could finish his sentence, Kaguya took the initiative. She stretched out her hand and, with a firm push, opened the door.
"No one here. Next room," Kaguya said curtly, turning her icy glare back on him as if to say, I'm watching you. Don't even think about trying anything.
"..."
Then why don't you just let me put you down and carry you on my back instead?! Kanade thought, sweat forming on his brow.
But he didn't dare suggest it.
A similar situation had happened before with another girl, Kasumigaoka-senpai. Back then, he had suggested switching from carrying her in his arms to a piggyback ride to avoid being too intimate. In response, she had mocked his stamina and accused him of calling her heavy, throwing a tantrum.
Heavy? Don't you know your own weight?! If I hadn't been working out, I wouldn't have been able to lift you in the first place!
Though Kaguya's personality was entirely different from Kasumigaoka-senpai's, her current expression made Kanade feel like she might shove him to the ground and berate him mercilessly if he even hinted at such a suggestion.
She's probably just tolerating my behavior for now. Deep down, she's furious.
How could you betray my trust like this? You're the worst!
There was no way he'd risk suggesting a different position. He resigned himself to holding her like this for as long as she remained silent.
Thankfully, his ordeal didn't last much longer. In the seventh room they checked—the one directly to the right of where the Butcher had been standing—they finally found their target.
A girl dressed as a ghost, complete with a black halo, sat on a chair. She was yawning and scrolling through her phone with a bored expression.
When she noticed them, she froze for a moment before hurriedly putting away her phone, straightening her posture, and adopting a serious demeanor.
"I was once—"
"Skip the backstory," Kanade interrupted, immediately extending the crumpled card he'd been holding. "Just stamp this."
The ghost girl looked momentarily conflicted.
It wasn't about skipping the backstory—though she was slightly annoyed she couldn't indulge her storytelling urges. The real problem was that she recognized the two before her.
One was the Student Council President, the other the Vice President. And now they seemed to be engaging in some elaborate roleplay. Logically, she should just stamp the card and pretend she hadn't seen anything.
But she prided herself on her professionalism. Gossiping and cutting corners weren't her style.
"Oh, right. I almost forgot." Kanade suddenly realized he was still missing a crucial item.
But in his current position…
"Uh, Kaguya, could you grab the item from my jacket pocket?" he asked.
Perhaps because there was someone else present, Kaguya's reluctance was palpable. She paused for a long moment, then glared at him as if he were something unpleasant. Finally, with visible displeasure, she reached out.
Her hand fumbled in his pocket for what felt like forever, her awkward angle making the process even slower. Kanade had to guide her to the correct spot, stopping her from unintentionally kneading his chest.
"It should be this," Kanade said, indicating the item.
Kaguya quickly retrieved the "Token of Affection" and handed it over with a huff.
"…Ah… yes…" The ghost girl stiffly accepted the item, nodding as she fought to suppress her curiosity.
She didn't dare ask any of the questions bubbling in her mind:
"What kind of roleplay is this?"
"Can I take a photo as a keepsake?"
Such thoughts were immediately dismissed.
"Thank you, brave—" she began, trying to deliver her scripted lines, only to be interrupted again.
"We're out of time. Just stamp the card," Kanade urged, cutting her off. "I don't want to miss the deadline."
"..."
The ghost girl had no choice but to comply, reluctantly stamping the card.
She had planned to recount the background story afterward to alleviate her boredom, but no sooner had she finished stamping than a delicate hand snatched the card away at lightning speed.
Before she could process what had happened, she looked up to find the pair already at the door.
"..."
So she was just part of their play, huh?
But it was so frustrating! She hadn't felt involved at all!