Kaguya-sama Wants My Surrender!

"Let's draw a blind box!"

Despite being so terrified just moments ago that tears welled up in her eyes, Chika quickly recovered, her mood bouncing back as if nothing had happened.

"I'll have you know, I've always had great luck. Just a few days ago, I bought a drink from a vending machine and even won a hidden prize!"

"What kind of hidden prize?" Amamiya asked, genuinely curious. He didn't even realize that regular vending machines had such perks.

Chika proudly placed her hands on her hips, tilted her chin up, and revealed her slender, porcelain-like neck as if about to share some grand secret.

"Heh, another bottle."

Wait, that's the hidden prize? Another drink? If that's considered good luck, then maybe being the unfortunate one wasn't so bad after all.

"You can only open one blind box a day," Kaguya remarked, her tone cool and composed as she crossed her arms. "So if Fujiwara-san wants to try her luck, now would be the time."

In these survival games, danger lurks around every corner. The value of permanent attribute improvements often pales in comparison to what you might get from a daily blind box.

Take the Ghost Academy mission, for example. The cat-ear hair accessories had played a crucial role in securing victory over the academy.

"Alright, time for the blind box!" Chika's eyes sparkled with excitement. Glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention, she summoned a simple blind box into her hands.

Skipping any rituals of bathing, praying, or burning incense, she casually patted her chest twice, then decisively opened the box without a second thought.

A faint white glow appeared, and the blind box in Chika's hand vanished, leaving behind only a pack of unopened tissues.

[Name: Uno Brand Tissues] 

[Attributes: A simple pack of tissues. If left on a bedside table overnight, it may transform into the 'Holy Shroud,' a pack of foul-smelling tissues.]

"…."

Looking at the tissues in Chika's hand, Amamiya and Kaguya fell into a stunned silence.

Such incredible luck.

If the world ever descended into chaos, this pack of tissues would undoubtedly be a crucial survival tool.

"Why would tissues become smelly just by sitting on a bedside table overnight?" Kaguya frowned slightly, genuinely puzzled.

Amamiya shot her a helpless glance. Shinomiya-san, with your innocence, are you seriously asking about something like this?

Their eyes met.

Kaguya's gaze remained clear and innocent, devoid of any guilt or jest, as if she was genuinely perplexed. Above her head, an invisible thought bubble seemed to pop up.

[Why isn't anyone answering me? Is my question strange?]

Amamiya was taken aback. She wasn't joking—Kaguya genuinely didn't understand the implications.

You're a high schooler, and you don't even know what tissues are commonly used for? Are you serious?

It's often rumored that noblewomen like her lead scandalous lives, but apparently, Kaguya is as pure as fresh snow.

Amamiya exchanged glances with Chika.

The girl, with her signature black ribbon, happened to look back at him at the same time.

Their eyes met.

With a single look, the understanding was mutual.

Amamiya realized that only Kaguya was an outlier. Chika, on the other hand... well, she clearly knew her way around such matters.

"Ahem, it seems my luck isn't so great today," Chika coughed awkwardly. Placing the pack of tissues on Amamiya's desk, she playfully winked and said, "Here, Natsuki-san. You can take this home and make use of it."

"I'm sorry, but I won't be needing it," Amamiya responded immediately, crossing his fingers in front of him. "Why don't you keep it for yourself?"

Using a pack of tissues gifted by a girl for 'that' purpose would feel way too perverse!

"Girls don't need this kind of thing."

"That's not entirely true…"

Kaguya tilted her head slightly, utterly confused. "What are you two talking about?"

"Actually—" Amamiya began, but was cut off when Chika suddenly placed her hand on his shoulder.

Leaning in close, her warm breath brushed his cheek as she flashed an angelic yet somewhat unnerving smile. "Amemiya-kun, you'd better not lead Kaguya-chan astray."

Lead her astray? This sheltered noblewoman doesn't even have basic common knowledge; she's the one at risk of being misled!

…

As more students gradually filled the classroom, the conversation died down, and the three returned to their seats. With the sound of the bell, Amamiya forced himself to focus on his studies, and the day passed quickly.

In the afternoon, as classes ended, Amamiya absentmindedly twirled his pencil, staring out the window at the playground where a group of students were energetically playing soccer.

The sun was bright, and the field was alive with the sound of their footsteps and laughter.

However, what they couldn't see was the enormous, ghostly toad sitting in front of the goalpost. It continuously opened its gaping mouth, catching the soccer balls, its massive body occasionally passing right through the unsuspecting goalkeeper.

Clearly, these wandering spirits had no fear of sunlight.

Throughout the day, at least three different spirits had appeared in the classroom, each causing Amamiya a fresh headache.

"School's over," Amamiya muttered to himself, gathering his things to head home.

"Natsuki-san, where are you headed?" Chika called out from behind, her voice as chipper as ever despite the chaos earlier.

"Home," he answered while packing his notebook and pen into his bag.

"Hey, aren't you going to join any club activities?"

"I'm not in any clubs."

"That's no good!" Chika exclaimed, placing her hands behind her back as she leaned forward, her bright pink eyes wide and earnest. "If you don't join a club in high school, you'll regret it for the rest of your life!"

"I'm sorry, but I don't have any regrets."

"…"

Meanwhile, Kaguya was far more composed. After gathering her things, she calmly made her way to the school gate.

However, as she approached the exit, her face suddenly paled. There, standing before her, was a woman draped in vengeful spirits, their infant-like cries echoing in the air as they crawled over her body. The sinister malice emanating from the figure was overwhelming.

Kaguya froze in place.

"Can you… see me?" The ghostly woman's hoarse voice grated on the ears, sending shivers down Kaguya's spine. One of the baby spirits excitedly crawled toward her, climbing around her as if it had found a new toy.

Even the unshakable "Ice Princess" couldn't suppress her fear. She gripped her schoolbag tightly, biting her lip as her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

[So scary, so scary, so scary…]

Seeing the girl on the verge of tears, Amamiya approached swiftly.

As the aura of the repelling halo washed over the area, the female ghost and her babies screamed in unison. Like snow meeting the sun, they evaporated instantly and fled into the shadows.

"Kaguya-chan, are you alright?" Chika rushed over and clung to Kaguya's arm, concern etched on her face.

"I'm fine," Kaguya replied, her voice trembling slightly, though her eyes were still filled with tears.

"Maybe wipe your eyes before you say that."

"…"