"Why are you making me wear this?" Kaguya asked, a slight frown forming on her face.
"There's no time to explain. Just trust me." Amamiya handed her the cat-ear hair accessory. "Put it on."
Kaguya quickly decided to trust him. After all, they were on the same team, and there was no reason to believe Amamiya would harm her. As for feeling embarrassed—such a pointless emotion didn't exist in her world.
With her long, straight black hair flowing coolly, Kaguya took the cat-ear accessory and calmly placed it on her head. Her expression remained composed, her demeanor as unshakable as ever.
A thought crossed Amamiya's mind: 'Put on this headband, and you shall transcend your humanity'.
However, to his mild disappointment, Kaguya didn't transform into a cat-girl as he had half-jokingly hoped. She was still very much human, despite the added accessory.
Meanwhile, the Dean, whose form was cloaked in swirling black mist, only allowing the glowing red of his eyes to show, suddenly froze. The glow in his eyes dimmed slightly, as though uncertain or even fearful.
"It's actually working?" Chika gasped in disbelief. "Could it be that this ghost is afraid of cat-ear hair accessories?"
"In his eyes, Shinomiya-san is now a cat-girl," Amamiya corrected. "He's obsessed with cats and doesn't want to scare her by getting too close."
No one could resist the allure of a cat—not even a vengeful spirit.
"But, how did you know that?" Chika asked, her curiosity piqued.
"That's a secret."
"I'm great at keeping secrets!"
"People who say that usually end up spilling them," Amamiya teased.
"That's so mean!"
Ignoring the exchange, Kaguya said calmly, "I don't like cats."
She reached up to touch the cat ears on her head, her face cool and unbothered, but the slight tilt of her head and the soft touch made her look unexpectedly adorable.
Suddenly, the Dean took a step forward, and the red glow in his eyes brightened again.
"He's getting angry!" Chika panicked. "Kaguya-chan, hurry up and say you like cats!"
"Wait." Amamiya intervened, stepping in front of Kaguya. "He's upset because your actions weren't very cat-like just now. Cats don't talk; they only meow. If you speak, you've got to do it like a cat."
The situation was clear. Once you donned the cat ears, you weren't just a normal human anymore—you had to act the part, or risk blowing your cover.
"I understand now," Chika exclaimed, raising her hand to her ear. "Kaguya-chan, copy me! Meow~"
Kaguya, always quick to grasp any task, mimicked Chika perfectly. She lifted her hand to her ear, tilted her head ever so slightly, and softly said:
"Meow~"
"So... so cute!" Chika clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. "Full marks! A perfect 100!"
"I'd give it a 60," Amamiya said, unimpressed.
"Huh?!"
"It would've been better if Shinomiya-san didn't look so icy cold while she was meowing."
With her hand falling back to her side, Kaguya stated flatly, "I don't know how to do that."
Despite the lack of enthusiasm in her meow, the effect on the Dean was immediate. He took two steps back, and the red glow in his eyes flickered out again.
At that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hall. A group of vengeful students was charging toward them, ready to exact punishment.
"Dean!"
Upon seeing the terrifying figure looming behind Kaguya, the lead vengeful student skidded to a halt, losing all momentum. Panic set in, and like mice fleeing from a cat, the others bolted in the opposite direction, frantically scrambling to escape.
"Stop running in the hallways," came the Dean's deep, ominous voice.
Without sparing the three of them another glance, he marched past them and headed straight for the vengeful students.
Silence fell over the corridor, leaving it eerily empty once more.
"What do we do now?" Chika whispered.
"We follow him," Amamiya declared, wasting no time. "With Shinomiya-san by our side, we don't have to fear anyone."
In times long past, warlords used the Emperor's authority to command the princes. Now, Amamiya intended to use Kaguya to command the spirits. What could possibly go wrong?
Understanding the situation, the trio quickly caught up with the Dean, trailing behind him.
An unlucky spirit had already been captured. The Dean grabbed the student's head with one hand, lifting him up effortlessly. With a swift motion, the vengeful student was crushed into a cloud of dark mist that quickly dissipated.
Thankfully, this wasn't real life—if a teacher ever imposed such brutal punishment on students, they'd be thrown in jail immediately.
With the punishment complete, the Dean turned his glowing eyes back toward Kaguya. He didn't come closer but didn't back away either. His glowing red eyes remained dim as he stood silently before them.
The evil spirits lurking in the shadows, spying on them, shrank back even further, too scared to approach.
"Kaguya-chan makes the perfect mascot," Chika sighed in relief. "Now we just have to wait for the game to end, right?"
"Since we have time, why not explore another game scenario?" Amamiya suggested. "The higher our score, the better the rewards when this is over."
"I agree." Kaguya's cold voice cut in, though above her head floated a line of text that betrayed her thoughts: 'I don't want to be a mascot!'
"This is the main building. Let's see what's ahead," Amamiya proposed.
The three moved forward, the Dean silently following behind to protect the "cat-girl."
Not long after, a game prompt sounded in the air.
"You have entered the Gaming Department."
"Please complete a game and win."
The air was thick with the acrid stench of blood. Along with Amamiya and the two others who had just entered, there were also a few unfortunate players. Each of them wore pale faces, their expressions twisted with fear. They huddled in the corners, trembling like helpless girls awaiting inevitable humiliation.
At the center of the game club stood a blonde girl dressed in a blood-stained school uniform. Her mouth bore eerie slits, resembling the grotesque grin of a slit-mouthed woman, with two deep, bloody wounds carved into her face. It was clear without a doubt—she was the vengeful spirit haunting the club.
"How dare you three humans step into my domain on your own?" the vengeful girl asked, tilting her head with a look of confusion.
Amamiya stepped forward calmly. "I'm bored. I came to play a few games," he replied.
The unlucky players, still trembling in the corner, glanced over in disbelief.
"Is that guy an idiot?"
"He must be."
"He has no idea how terrifying these games are."
"What a shame. He's got such a pretty face, but he's clearly a fool."
"..."
"Very well. I admire your bravery," the ghost girl said, licking her lips as a gleam of excitement appeared in her eyes. She then began to explain the rules: "Cards, dice, flying chess, mahjong... You can choose any game here to play with me. If you win, you're free to leave. But if you lose, you'll leave your most precious heart behind."
"Hold on a moment," Amamiya interjected.
"What? Are you having second thoughts?" the ghost girl frowned.
"Who said my most precious thing is my heart?"
"Then what is it?" she asked.
Amamiya turned toward the expressionless cat-eared girl beside him. "My most precious thing… is, of course, Shinomiya-san."