"Why there's nothing?" Umi frowned slightly as she glanced at her phone. "There are so many players in the mutual aid group. There shouldn't only be two dungeon invitations."
Since meeting Amamiya during the midnight tram dungeon, the two had cleared almost every dungeon scene together. Naturally, Umi wanted to continue as a team.
"There's still time before the dungeon opens," Amamiya replied, handing her a can of juice. "It's possible someone might come up with an extra invitation soon. In the meantime, I could use your help."
"Help with what?" Umi asked, looking up curiously.
"Charging," Amamiya said, glancing toward Shimizu.
Surfing her phone drained Shimizu's ghostly energy quickly. With a dungeon coming up, replenishing her energy was essential.
"Leave it to me." Umi drained her juice and stood up confidently. She'd helped with charging before and was familiar with the process. "But first, I'm all sweaty. I'm going to take a shower."
"Go ahead."
Without hesitation, Umi headed toward the bathroom, her footsteps echoing softly down the hall.
Amamiya settled onto the sofa, flipping through TV channels while keeping an eye on the mutual aid group chat for any updates.
Hayasaka:
"Senpai, Senpai! You're entering a compulsory dungeon, and you didn't take me along? I want to go too!"
Amamiya:
"Sorry, the leg pendant quota is full."
Hayasaka:
"That's unfair, Senpai! I'm not just a leg pendant—I can actually be useful!"
Amamiya:
"Oh? Give me an example."
Hayasaka:
"I can cheer for you, encourage you, be your guiding light, and even make the world my enemy if it means supporting you!"
Amamiya:
"Inspiring words. I still choose Chika."
If Amamiya hadn't known about Hayasaka's numerous aliases, he might have been swayed by her sweet talk.
Hayasaka:
"Senpai, you're heartless! You really think Chika-chan is cuter than me, don't you?"
Amamiya:
"Cuteness is subjective. I prefer more scientific criteria."
Hayasaka:
"What kind of criteria?"
Amamiya:
"Only OPPEIN can truly warm hearts."
Hayasaka:
"Ahhh! You pervert-senpai with only breasts on your mind! Just wait and see!"
"Amamiya, can you come here for a second?" Umi's voice called from the bathroom.
"What is it?" Amamiya set his phone aside and walked over.
"I forgot to bring a change of clothes," Umi admitted, peeking around the edge of the bathroom door. Her damp hair fell over her shoulders, and her flushed cheeks suggested mild embarrassment. "Can you grab something for me?"
"Didn't you pack anything in your bag?"
"I forgot?"
"Hold on."
Amamiya walked back to the sofa and picked up Umi's school bag. Opening it, he found an assortment of random items: a small mirror, lipstick, earrings, a necklace, a tiny doll, a wallet—but no clothes, aside from a single pair of black stockings.
"Found something," he called out. "There's a pair of black stockings."
"Anything else?"
"Nope."
"How am I supposed to manage with just stockings?"
"You're thinking about this wrong," Amamiya said seriously. "Remember the Hamana Lake Festival? Only a handful of people were arrested. That proves that even if you're only wearing stockings, it doesn't count as indecent exposure."
"I'm not doing that!" Umi's voice carried her indignation. Puffing out her cheeks, she ordered, "Go grab one of your shirts!"
Resigned, Amamiya fetched a white shirt from his closet and handed it to her.
"Thanks!" Umi snatched it quickly, shutting the door with a soft thud.
Back on the sofa, Amamiya checked his phone again. Unfortunately, no new dungeon invitations had surfaced yet. He sighed and leaned back, bracing for the wait to continue.
A moment later, the bathroom door creaked open, and a girl in a white shirt stepped out, her slippers making soft clacking sounds against the floor.
Amamiya turned his head and glanced at her, his eyes lighting up.
The blonde girl, freshly out of the shower, had skin as white as snow, with her golden hair damp and cascading over her shoulders. She was wearing nothing but a white shirt.The shirt was obviously too big for her, barely reaching her thighs.
Amamiya lowered his gaze and couldn't help but notice the flawless, snow-white legs that peeked out from beneath the shirt. They were so radiant under the light that they almost seemed to glow, tempting him to take a closer look.
After a brief moment of admiration, Amamiya sighed quietly.
"Why are you sighing?"
Umi's face flushed with color. She instinctively grabbed the hem of her shirt and tugged it down with one hand, her eyes curious.
Amamiya spoke with a trace of regret. "I was having an intense internal struggle."
"Huh?" Umi's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"It was like the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae. Unfortunately, reason triumphed over impulse, and they failed to transform into werewolves."
"Your tone sounds so regretful!"
Umi's face turned even redder, and she couldn't help but tease, "What if impulse had won? What would you have done?"
Amamiya answered seriously, "The blind men and the elephant."
Umi's eyes widened in realization. "Are you saying my legs are as thick as an elephant's?"
"Please don't twist my words."
"Pervert Amamiya!" Her cheeks puffed up in embarrassment.
Umi huffed, her wine-red eyes sparkling with playfulness. She pressed her legs tightly together, turned her head, and whispered, "When you get back after clearing the dungeon... I'll let you touch it."
Amamiya raised his right hand dramatically. "I request an advance payment of the reward."
"No advance payments." Umi lifted her chin, sitting down on the sofa. "Hurry up and dry my hair. After that, I'll help recharge Sister Shimizu's energy."
"…"
After drying her hair and replenishing Shimizu's ghostly energy, Amamiya sat back down, only to be interrupted by his phone vibrating.
"Another dungeon invitation has appeared."
Amamiya raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Hey, let me see!"
Umi immediately leaned in, resting her head on Amamiya's shoulder as she eagerly peered at his phone. "Evil King True Eye User… What an impressive name. Is this person a super powerful player?"
"Unfortunately, no," Amamiya shook his head. A silly girl wearing an eye patch appeared in his mind. "I've encountered her twice in previous dungeons. She seems to be from Chiba Prefecture."
"Well, that's good. Chiba isn't far from Tokyo. It's only about an hour by car," Umi sighed with relief. "Finally, there's another invitation."
Amamiya glanced at the time. "I have a train to catch at 8:30 pm."
Umi quickly responded, "I'm going too."
Amamiya looked down, his gaze falling on Umi's long, slender legs, which shimmered in the light. He said firmly, "I don't agree. Stay at home."
"Hmm..." Umi's eyes flickered, her face flushing slightly as she pulled the hem of her shirt down a bit further. "Then go and come back quickly. I'll do the laundry and dry my clothes in the dryer."
After changing into his shoes and stepping outside, Amamiya suddenly felt his little finger twitch.
He pulled out his phone and found a message from Chika, sent at precisely the right time.
"Amamiya, have you checked the mutual aid group? Rikka-chan has a dungeon invitation."
"I saw it," Amamiya replied. "I've already contacted her and asked her to take the Shinkansen from Chiba Prefecture. I'll pick her up at the station."
Although Chiba wasn't far from Tokyo, it still took time to get to the station. At least an hour, so Amamiya needed to be efficient.
Chika: "I'll head to the station later."
"What are you planning to do?"
"Rikka-chan came all the way here to deliver something, so of course, we have to entertain her."
"Did your parents agree to you going out tonight?"
"It's fine. I'll just sneak out and say I'm going to hang out with Kaguya-chan."
Amamiya chuckled to himself. You really are skilled at using Kaguya as a shield.
Speaking of Kaguya, she appeared right on cue.
Amamiya quickly received a message from the silly girl.
"Amamiya, did you see the message?"
"I saw it," Amamiya replied. "I'm on my way to the station."
Kaguya: "Give me the dungeon invitation."
"If you want to use the invitation, you need to ask Tsubame-senpai to invite you personally."
"I know. I'm on my way."
"Can you stay out all night?"
Amamiya raised an eyebrow in doubt.
Kaguya: "I'll just say I'm going to hang out with Chika."
They really are good friends, Amamiya thought. When something comes up, they use each other as shields.
A moment later, another message from Tsubame popped up.
"Amamiya-kun, did you see...?"
"I saw it," Amamiya interrupted. "Kaguya is going with you."
Tsubame: "Okay, I'll head to the station right away."
As the dungeon inviter, she was of course an essential part of the plan.
Amamiya tucked his phone away and made his way to Shinjuku Station.
There was no conversation during the walk.
Upon arriving at the station, he still had time to kill before Rikka's arrival, so Amamiya went into a nearby cold drink shop and patiently waited.
After a short while, Tsubame appeared, making her way toward him.
"Here."
Amamiya waved from the corner where he sat.
Seeing Amamiya, Tsubame's eyes lit up as she walked briskly to the table. "Amamiya-kun, I'm here!"
"Sit down," Amamiya said casually. "It'll take another half hour for Rikka to arrive. What would you like to drink, senpai?"
"A glass of apple juice," Tsubame replied. She bit her lower lip slightly and murmured, "I'm causing trouble for you again, Amamiya-kun."
Amamiya pointed to himself. "Do you know what my status is at school, Senpai?"
"Eh?" Tsubame blinked in surprise. "Student Council President?"
"President is just one of my roles," Amamiya said seriously, crossing his fingers. "In fact, I'm also a member of the Tsubame-senpai Protection Association."
"What kind of organization is that?" Tsubame asked, raising an eyebrow. "I've never heard of it."
Amamiya continued, "The Protection Association operates in secret, with one sole mission: to protect Senpai's priceless smile."
Tsubame: "…"
She placed a hand on her forehead and sighed, but then smiled brightly. "Then from now on, I'll leave everything to you, Amamiya-kun."
"To protect senpai's smile!" Amamiya said with exaggerated enthusiasm.
"Don't say that!" Tsubame blushed, flustered. "It sounds too embarrassing!"
"…"
The two continued chatting, and soon enough, the silly lady appeared with her maid Hayasaka.
"Shinomiya-san, over here!"
Tsubame stood up and waved to Kaguya.
Kaguya walked over and sat on the sofa next to Amamiya.
The silly young lady wasn't wearing her usual school uniform, but a white dress. Her soft black hair was tied with a black ribbon, transforming the normally all-black Kaguya into a radiant "white" version. Amamiya couldn't help but steal a few extra glances.It wasn't just him; with Kaguya's appearance, two of the four beauties of Shuchi'in were now seated at the small table, flanked by the cute maid beside them. This naturally drew the attention of the other customers in the cold drink shop, who couldn't help but look over from time to time.
However, both Kaguya and Tsubame had long since grown accustomed to such attention and paid it no mind whatsoever.
"I'm sorry for troubling you, Shinomiya-san," Tsubame murmured, her voice carrying an apologetic tone.
Kaguya shook her head, "Tsubame-senpai has helped us a lot before..." She turned to Amamiya. "Amamiya, have you used the invitation?"
Amamiya nodded, responding, "It's already been used."
The process was simple. Once Tsubame obtained the invitation, the basic details of the dungeon appeared on it. Any player who received the invitation would then receive a copy invitation. As long as they wrote down their name, they would qualify for the dungeon.
"What would you like to drink?" Amamiya asked, looking at Kaguya.
Kaguya pursed her pink lips thoughtfully before answering, "Ginger ale."
"Huh?" Tsubame looked surprised. She hadn't expected the cold young lady to prefer soda.
Amamiya nodded, then turned to the maid standing behind Kaguya. "Hayasaka, what do you want to drink?"
"I don't drink," Hayasaka replied, her dedication to her maid duties clear.
A moment later, Chika arrived, the last to join them.
The four of them finished their drinks and then headed to the platform together to wait.
At 9:20 in the evening, the Shinkansen from Chiba Prefecture slowly came to a stop on the platform, and passengers began to pour out.
Amamiya scanned the crowd carefully and quickly spotted a girl wearing an eye patch. A strand of hair on her head fluttered in the breeze. It was Rikka Takanashi.
"I see her. There she is," Amamiya said, pointing.
"Rikka-chan!" Chika greeted, waving excitedly.
"Chika-chan," Rikka replied with a bright smile, her eyes lighting up as she spotted her friend. She ran over, backpack bouncing on her back.
The two girls were naturally thrilled to see each other. They'd been through the Hospital and Stormy Mountain together, forming a bond that transcended simple friendship—a true connection forged in the heat of battle.
"Invitation," Rikka said, quickly pulling out the envelope. "I got this from the blind box before, but I never used it. Take it."
Given the relationship between the two parties, Rika was originally reluctant to take the money, but after being persuaded by Tsubame, she finally accepted it.
"Give it to me," Kaguya said, reaching out for the letter. She quickly wrote down her name, officially qualifying for the dungeon copy.
(Tsk, what now?)
Hayasaka, standing at the back corner, observed the scene from a distance, a slight bite to her lip.
Since the young lady had chosen to enter the dungeon, she, as Kaguya's personal maid, had no choice but to follow. However, since there was no additional copy invitation, Hayasaka couldn't join in, and the thought frustrated her.
"I'm going back," Rikka announced after a short conversation.
"It's so late now; it's not safe to go back alone. Rikka-chan, why not stay the night and head back tomorrow morning?" Chika suggested, her tone kind. "Tokyo isn't far from Chiba. If you leave tomorrow morning, it won't affect your classes."
The young girl hesitated at the suggestion.
"That's right," Chika said, confidently placing her right hand on her waist and pointing forward with her left hand. "Amamiya, let's go home!"