The ability commonly referred to as 'Copy and Paste' was, in fact, called 'Touch of Fate'.
This skill didn't just copy others' abilities—it could also steal basic attributes from them. However, during earlier trials, it was discovered that stealing attributes would temporarily weaken the target but offered no permanent advantage. The borrowed attributes couldn't be stored for later, nor did they provide any special bonuses. As a result, 'Touch of Fate' was largely ineffective for dealing with vengeful spirits, reducing it to little more than a physical attack. Because of this, Amamiya rarely used it.
But now, faced with the situation at hand, Amamiya decided to employ the 'steal' function of his ability.
He locked onto the 'Curse of Pain' afflicting Hayasaka and confirmed the action.
The next moment, a sharp wave of pain surged through his body, unrelenting and oppressive.
"Tsk, miscalculation," Amamiya muttered under his breath, his brows knitting tightly.
He had assumed the negative status might function like a borrowed skill—one that could be stored and managed. Instead, the curse took effect immediately upon being stolen, transferring the suffering directly to him.
In essence, Amamiya had taken Hayasaka's place as the curse's victim.
Still, retreating halfway through was not in his nature.
He gritted his teeth and continued to 'steal'.
"Eh? It doesn't hurt as much anymore!" Hayasaka's voice was tinged with surprise, her expression lighting up. The agonizing pain that had gripped her earlier was rapidly subsiding.
"Senpai, did you actually steal the curse?" She looked at Amamiya with wide, sparkling eyes, a mixture of awe and relief.
Taking a deep breath, Amamiya responded flatly, "I finally believe something now."
"What's that?"
"That girls have a much higher tolerance for pain than boys."
"…"
The pain he was experiencing was overwhelming, enough to make even someone as composed as Amamiya grimace.
"Thank you for your hard work, Senpai," Hayasaka murmured softly as she moved closer. She pulled out a tissue and gently dabbed at the sweat beading on his forehead. Her voice was natural and tender—free from the practiced elegance of her usual demeanor. "Why don't we stop here?"
Her words suggested concern, but her actions betrayed her true feelings. She continued to clasp Amamiya's hand tightly, showing no signs of letting go.
Amamiya raised an eyebrow. "You're telling me to stop, yet you're not letting go. It's obvious you want me to keep going."
A faint smile tugged at her lips. "If you stop now, won't all the suffering you endured so far be for nothing?"
Amamiya tightened his grip on her right hand. "Exactly."
Hayasaka's voice turned gentler as she asked, "Then, Senpai, can you pass the curse back to me later?"
"That sounds… unsanitary, somehow," Amamiya replied dryly.
The spy maid paused briefly before continuing in a reflective tone. "When I was studying, I came across the word 'empathy'. But I've always felt it was a hollow concept—a comforting term people use to mask the truth. No one can truly empathize with another."
She bit her lip thoughtfully before elaborating:
"Think of cancer patients confined to hospital beds, enduring unbearable pain every day. There are always people online who claim, 'If it were me, I'd make the most of my time—travel, fulfill my dreams, live life to the fullest.' But those people don't understand what it's like to hurt so much that even breathing feels like torture. How can someone think of traveling when they can't even sit up without agony? That's when I realized empathy is an illusion. People can't really understand each other's suffering."
Her voice softened, carrying a newfound warmth. "But this is different."
As she spoke, her fingers shifted, slipping between Amamiya's and interlocking their hands. She raised their clasped hands slightly, tilting her head at a playful angle. Her tone became sweet and teasing as she continued, "Senpai~ if anyone in the world could truly empathize with you, it would be me, wouldn't it?"
The pain in her body had nearly vanished entirely, and with it, her spirits soared. A radiant smile graced her lips as her mischievous energy returned. She leaned closer to Amamiya, her bright eyes twinkling as she prepared her next playful attack.
Amamiya's gaze turned distant as he muttered, "I regret it."
Hayasaka, ever playful, leaned in with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Regret rebound~! Senpai, you're a boy—you should finish what you've started."
The sweet scent of citrus lingered in the air, her soft breath brushing against his ear as she spoke. She was putting 120% of her charm into her act.
"Senpai," she continued, her tone taking on a serious edge, "I've made my decision."
Amamiya raised an eyebrow. "What decision?"
"I want to repay you, Senpai." Hayasaka's expression turned earnest. "You risked everything to save me, without any hesitation. So… I'll do anything you ask of me."
Amamiya gave her a skeptical glance. "Anything?"
The spy maid lifted her chin confidently. "That's right."
A sly smile crossed Amamiya's lips. "Alright, then solve a math problem for me—like the final question from this year's college entrance exam."
"…I can't do that."
Hayasaka puffed up her cheeks indignantly and poked him lightly in the side with her finger. "Senpai, don't ask for something impossible! If you insist, I'll only be able to write half of it."
"Which half?"
"The problem statement," she replied with a pout.
"…"
Tilting her head in a playful manner, she closed one eye and teased, "Senpai, Senpai, Senpai, you're allowed to change your request."
Amamiya's gaze shifted slightly downward, settling on her soft, pink lips.
"Eh? Eeh!?"
The spy maid's eyes widened in alarm. She quickly raised her hand to cover her lips, leaning back ever so slightly. "Senpai, are you thinking about asking me for a kiss?"
"Not quite," Amamiya replied calmly.
"You're so bold, Senpai!" she huffed, feigning outrage. "Asking a girl for something like that—it's so improper! I can't accept it!"
"…"
Amamiya simply stared at her in silence, his expression unreadable.
"Y-you're not angry, are you, Senpai?" Hayasaka's voice faltered, suddenly nervous. She glanced up at him with a pitiful look. "W-well, it's not like I 'can't'… If you agree to date me, I might consider it."
"You've changed," Amamiya said flatly, his tone laced with faint disbelief. "You weren't like this when we played hide-and-seek on the ghost ship."
Hayasaka shrugged lightly, a soft smile spreading across her face. "Everyone puts on a facade at first. When I met you back then, I didn't know you well. I had to be cautious—you might've been a bad guy, after all. So, of course, I pretended to be mature. But now…"
She leaned closer, her voice turning sweet and relaxed. "Now I know you, Senpai. It's hard to keep pretending around someone I'm comfortable with."
"Tsk…"
Amamiya's internal monologue was less forgiving.
'If I hadn't seen that little devil icon practically flashing over your head, I might've actually believed you. You may look soft and innocent on the outside, but on the inside, you're all sharp edges.'
Amamiya straightened up suddenly. "Alright. I've made my decision."
"What decision?" Ai asked, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. "Are you… ready to confess, Senpai?"
"I'm ready."
"…"
The spy maid froze for a moment. The teasing smile on her lips wavered.
'Wait. Is he actually going to confess?'
'No, this has to be a bluff. He's probably just setting me up for something else.'
Still, a flicker of doubt crossed her mind, and she felt an unfamiliar tension in her chest.
'(If he does confess, will I… have to kiss him?)'
'(It's for the young lady's sake, after all. A spy has to make sacrifices for the mission. But still…)'
Her thoughts raced, and to her surprise, she could hear the rapid thudding of her own heartbeat.
"I've decided," Amamiya announced with perfect composure. "Do a 360-degree backflip."
"Huh?"
Hayasaka blinked, completely thrown off guard. "What did you just say?"
Amamiya maintained a straight face as he repeated, "For some reason, I really want to see someone do a backflip right now."
The spy maid's eye twitched. She clenched her teeth and leaned in closer, her voice low with mock frustration. "Senpai, doesn't it hurt your conscience to bully a girl like this?"
"Nope. Not even a little."
"…"