Chika looked at Natsuki with pleading eyes. "I left in such a hurry, I forgot my wallet. Could you spare some change?"
Natsuki sighed and handed her a 100 yen coin. Noticing Kaguya's expectant look, he asked, "Don't tell me you forgot yours too?"
Kaguya lifted her chin slightly. "I never bring money when I go out."
Natsuki blinked in surprise. "Then how do you get to school? What about lunch?"
"I have a driver," Kaguya replied matter-of-factly. "And the chef brings lunch."
Shaking his head in disbelief, Natsuki handed Kaguya a coin as well. "Here you go, your highness," he said with a hint of sarcasm.
The girls inserted their coins and, with Natsuki's guidance, selected their characters. They both chose Jamie for fairness.
"Ready, Kaguya?" Chika said, her face set in determination. "I won't go easy on you!"
Kaguya nodded, her eyes fixed on the screen.
As they played, Natsuki watched with amusement. Their lack of experience was evident, and he couldn't help but think he could easily beat both of them combined.
After Chika's defeat, she sighed contentedly. "That was fun!"
Natsuki turned to Kaguya. "Well? How'd it go?"
A spark of excitement flashed in Kaguya's eyes. "The 'Hundred Defeats' mission has made some progress."
They played a few more rounds, but Kaguya's progress stalled at 1%. "It seems each person only counts once," she mused. "Natsuki, you should play."
Natsuki raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? You'll lose."
Kaguya's eyes narrowed. "You're quite confident."
What followed was a series of crushing defeats for Kaguya. After the fifth loss, Chika started providing enthusiastic commentary, mimicking the game's sound effects.
"Fujiwara!" Kaguya snapped, her composure slipping.
Chika covered her mouth, eyes wide with innocence. "Sorry! You just looked so serious, I wanted to lighten the mood."
Kaguya turned back to Natsuki, a fire burning in her eyes. "One more round."
Natsuki couldn't help but smile at her determination. The prim and proper Kaguya Shinomiya, getting fired up over an arcade game – it was a sight to behold.
"Alright," he said, cracking his knuckles. "Let's see what you've learned."
As they started another match, Chika cheered from the sidelines, while Kaguya's fingers flew over the controls with newfound intensity. The game center, once quiet, now echoed with the sounds of their heated battle.
Kaguya's competitive spirit was burning bright. As a genius, she'd always held herself to the highest standards in everything she did. Losing five games in a row was more than just embarrassing – it was unacceptable.
"One more round," she insisted, her eyes blazing with determination.
Natsuki shook his head. "I think we should call it quits. We'll be late for class if we stay any longer."
Chika, who had been watching intently, checked her phone and gasped. "Oh no, he's right! We need to hurry back!"
Kaguya hesitated, torn between her desire to even the score and her sense of duty. Finally, she sighed and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "Very well. Let's go."
The trio jogged back to school, making it just in time for class.
As the day drew to a close, Chika approached Kaguya with a bright smile. "I've talked to my friends. You can start the mission anytime!"
Kaguya frowned. "Wait... what exactly did you tell them?"
"That I'd find a hundred friends to help you complete your task, of course!" Chika beamed.
Natsuki couldn't help but marvel at Chika's social prowess. Less than a month into the school year, and she could rally a hundred friends at a moment's notice? It was almost scary.
Kaguya's frown deepened. "Your friends... might not be suitable."
"What do you mean?" Chika asked, confused.
Natsuki stepped in to explain. "Your friends are all our schoolmates, right?" When Chika nodded, he continued, "Well, Kaguya can be a bit... intimidating at school."
Kaguya shot him a dangerous look.
"I mean, she's like a rare mountain flower," Natsuki quickly corrected himself. "Most students avoid her like mice avoiding a cat. If you ask them to do this mission with her, they'll probably be too nervous to meet the requirements."
He silently added to himself that Kaguya's family background, beauty, and aura, while invisible, were very real factors that set her apart from others.
Chika's face fell as she realized the problem. "Oh... I didn't think of that."
Kaguya sighed, a hint of frustration in her voice. "We need to find a way to complete this mission without relying on our schoolmates. Any ideas?"
Natsuki pondered for a moment. "What if we went back to the arcade? You could challenge strangers there. They wouldn't know who you are, so they might be less intimidated."
Kaguya's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "That... might actually work. But I'll need more practice first. I refuse to embarrass myself like that again."
"I can help you practice!" Chika offered enthusiastically. "We can use my console at home."
As they discussed their new plan, Natsuki couldn't help but smile. Who would have thought that a simple mission would lead the elite Kaguya Shinomiya to become invested in arcade fighting games?
"We need to verify this," Natsuki said. "Fujiwara, can you ask someone to check it out?"
"Leave it to me!" Chika scanned the classroom, waving to a short-haired girl. "Asuka-chan, come here!"
Natsuki recognized Asuka Kashiwagi, the classmate who'd stumbled upon them yesterday.
"M-me?" Asuka pointed at herself nervously.
"Yes, you! Hurry up!"
Asuka approached cautiously, eyeing Kaguya warily.
"Any club activities today?" Chika asked brightly.
"No..."
"Perfect! I need a favor."
"W-what is it?"
"Kaguya wants to play a game, and you'll be her opponent!"
Asuka paled, trembling slightly. "I-I'm sorry! I couldn't possibly be a match for Kaguya-san. Please, let me go!"
Despite her protests, Asuka found herself trailing after the group to the arcade.
"Relax," Chika insisted. "We're just here to play games!"
The arcade was busier than this morning, but their previous machines were free. Kaguya sat down, and Chika directed Asuka to join her.
Natsuki went to get coins while Chika explained the game basics.
"What happens if we lose?" Asuka asked nervously.
Natsuki handed over a coin. "Don't worry. There's no penalty. Kaguya's just looking for someone to play with."
Kaguya shot him a sharp look, clearly displeased with the implication.
"O-okay," Asuka said, relieved. She inserted a coin and the game began.
It ended quickly.
"I'm sorry, I'm terrible at this," Asuka apologized. "It's my first time playing."
"That's okay!" Chika handed her a drink. "Here, to calm your nerves." She turned to Kaguya. "So, how did it go?"