"A date, of course~"
Shimizu placed her hands on her hips and spoke with conviction. "Do you know why the protagonists in most comics are high school students?"
Chika blinked, her curiosity piqued. "I've never really thought about it. Why is that?"
"It's simple," Shimizu sighed softly. "Elementary school students are ignorant, blissfully unaware of much. They live happily in their ignorance."
"You're overthinking it," Amamiya interjected. "Don't underestimate elementary school students these days. For instance, Kaguya has been outmatched by them on more than one occasion."
Indeed, some elementary school students, beyond their gaming talents, displayed remarkable skill in romance. At such a young age, they had already accomplished milestones like holding hands, hugging, having girlfriends, and even kissing—far surpassing some lonely men in their forties who had never held a woman's hand.
"Eh! Eh?" Shimizu tilted her head with exaggerated curiosity. "When has Kaguya-chan ever been defeated by an elementary school student?"
Kaguya adjusted the straps of her schoolbag, holding it with both hands as she walked with a dignified air. "It was just a silly challenge from the past," she said, evading the question.
Shimizu raised her hand dramatically. "I'm intrigued. Tell me about it!"
"I'd rather not."
Kaguya kept her gaze fixed forward, her tone low. Losing to an elementary school kid at an arcade game was an embarrassment she preferred to keep secret—even from her mother.
"That's not fair," Shimizu lamented, clutching her face as though wounded. "Kaguya-chan doesn't love her mother anymore, does she?"
Kaguya's silence spoke volumes.
"You really don't love me anymore!" Shimizu seized the opportunity to fake-cry louder. "Now you won't even share your stories!"
Kaguya's eyebrow twitched. Even as a composed young woman, her patience frayed under such antics. "You're not a child anymore," she muttered, her voice laced with exasperation. "Aren't you embarrassed to act like this every day?"
"Not at all," Shimizu replied confidently. "Shame is a human emotion, and as your guardian spirit, I'm exempt."
"Girls who refuse to express their feelings are always losers in comics," she added with mock wisdom.
"Not bad advice," Amamiya quipped from nearby, glancing back briefly. "Maybe she should spend more time on her phone."
Shimizu's antics could be traced back to her youth, long before concepts like tsundere had solidified in pop culture. Now, she embraced her role as an over-the-top, love-obsessed spirit with unmatched zeal, leaving no trope unexplored.
Chika cleared her throat, steering the conversation back. "So, why are high school students often the main characters in comics?"
Shimizu perked up, resuming her explanation. "We discussed elementary school students. Now, let's talk about middle schoolers—"
As if on cue, two girls in middle school uniforms strolled past. Their crisp white shirts emphasized their developing figures, drawing involuntary glances from passersby.
Shimizu gestured toward them. "Take those two, for example. While they're physically developing, they're clearly still immature mentally."
Amamiya couldn't help but glance at Kaguya. While she had reached emotional maturity, certain other aspects lagged noticeably.
"Amamiya-san, what are you looking at?" Kaguya asked, her smile laced with a dangerous edge.
"The road?" he replied swiftly, averting his gaze.
Shimizu continued undeterred. "Once you reach college, you're living on your own and juggling responsibilities."
"And when you start working," she added with a sigh, "the repetitive grind drains your energy and curiosity. You're too worn out to try anything new."
She raised a finger in conclusion. "But high school students are different. They're physically and mentally mature, yet untouched by the harsher realities of society. Their curiosity and passion remain intact. It's the perfect age for exploration—especially for girls!"
"I read online that even stockings worn by high school girls sell at premium prices..." Amamiya mumbled under his breath.
Shimizu shot him a sharp look. "Stop browsing shady sites, or I'll activate parental controls!"
"Three years. High school only lasts three short years." Shimizu raised three fingers for emphasis as she continued. "If you don't experience at least one heart-pounding date during that time, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
"For example, I regret it now," she added with a wistful sigh, her voice carrying a ghostly tone. "Back in high school, I was so focused on exams and securing the top rank in my grade that I missed out on the sweet and sour experience of dating. I'll never get that chance again."
The three were silent, unsure how to respond to her lament.
As they spoke, the trio reached the school gate.
A sleek black car was parked in its usual spot at the corner. The gray-haired chauffeur stood by the door, bowing slightly as Amamiya and the others approached. With practiced precision, he opened the car door, every movement meticulous and seamless—a true professional.
"Chika, would you like a ride home?" Kaguya asked.
"No, thank you," Chika replied with a shake of her head, breathing in the crisp, rain-cleansed air. "The rain's finally stopped, and it's rare to have such a pleasant day. I'd rather walk for a bit."
"Alright," Kaguya said with a slight nod before turning to Amamiya. "What about you?"
"I'll head home on my own," Amamiya replied. "See you tomorrow."
"...See you tomorrow," Kaguya said softly as the car drove off.
As the pair began walking, Chika mused aloud, "What Sister Shimizu said earlier makes a lot of sense. It kind of makes me want to go on a date."
Without hesitation, Amamiya raised his hand and volunteered, "I can help you experience what a date is like."
Chika's cheeks flushed pink as she waved her hands defensively. "You can't!"
"Why not?"
"There's no why! No means no!"
"Alright then," Amamiya said, smoothly changing the subject. "A new ramen shop opened recently. I heard the food's amazing. Want to check it out?"
Chika's eyes lit up instantly. "I want to eat!"
"Let's go, then," Amamiya said with a smile.
The two strolled toward the setting sun, side by side.
"Wait…" Chika suddenly stopped in her tracks as realization dawned on her.
Eating ramen together, just the two of them—wasn't this basically a date?
"You've changed your priorities," Amamiya teased.
"I haven't changed anything!" Chika pouted, puffing out her cheeks in protest.
Amamiya shrugged, his tone light and matter-of-fact. "You're so focused on trying the new ramen place that you're not even thinking about anything else."
Chika clenched her fists, her expression resolute. "…That makes sense. When you're visiting a new ramen spot, you shouldn't let anything distract you."
With that, they continued onward, the allure of delicious ramen driving them forward.
After finishing their meal, the two parted ways and headed home.
That night, unlike the previous one, Chika didn't sneak out for any late-night escapades. Only the spy maid showed up, but her visit didn't warrant further mention.
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, Amamiya prepared for school as usual. Today marked his first official day as the student council president.
Kaguya, Chika, and Kashiwagi all arrived early, gathering in the student council office to kick off their new term.
And so, the first day of the student council's activities began…
But nothing noteworthy happened.
"So boring," Chika groaned, lying on the sofa. "Let's do something."
Amamiya glanced over at her and said, "Don't act like such a drama queen."
"I'm not being superstitious!" Chika retorted with a playful pout.
Just then, the door suddenly swung open with a bang.
Tsubame rushed in, her gaze quickly scanning the room. She bit her pink lips nervously before speaking.
"Kashiwagi-chan, could you step out for a moment?"
"Of course," Kashiwagi blinked, a bit surprised, but nodded thoughtfully. She stood up and left the office.
Seeing this, Amamiya narrowed his eyes, a feeling of unease creeping in as he sensed something was amiss.
"Tsubame-senpai, what's wrong?" Chika asked, completely unaware of the tension.
Tsubame took a deep breath, placing a hand over her chest to steady herself. "I… I just received a notification from the game. I'm being forced into a new dungeon."
"…?"
At her words, both Amamiya and Kaguya exchanged a silent glance with Chika.