The three left the classroom and headed toward the school gate.
As they walked, students passing by were entering the school, while Amamiya, Chika, and Kaguya moved in the opposite direction. Naturally, this drew the curious gazes of those around them.
"This really feels like we're skipping class. It's kind of thrilling," Chika said excitedly.
Her steps were light, her eyes gleaming with excitement like a deer about to escape the confines of a zoo and into the wild.
'Thrilling?' Amemiya thought, 'It would only be thrilling if you showed up tomorrow without wearing your panties.'
"Hey, Kaguya-chan, have you ever skipped class before?" Chika asked, glancing over at her friend.
"No." Kaguya had regained her composure, her hands folded gracefully at her abdomen as she walked with impeccable posture.
Her aura as the [Ice Kaguya] was on full display—cold and composed—causing anyone in her path to move aside, avoiding her presence entirely.
"I heard that a school life without skipping class is incomplete!" Chika said playfully.
Kaguya's response was calm, though the edge in her voice was unmistakable. "Has Fujiwara-san skipped class before?"
Chika giggled, putting her hands on her hips as she raised her chin proudly. "Once! It was last summer during PE class. The teacher made us run laps outside, but it was so hot that I only did one lap and then hid in the shade!"
Kaguya smiled at her friend's story, her expression softening as though she were gently humoring a small, harmless animal. "Fujiwara-san is quite adorable."
Amemiya nodded in silent agreement, but took a few steps away from the girls.
Scientific studies have shown that stupidity can be contagious.
Spend too much time around a fool, and it won't make the fool smarter—instead, you'll more likely become one yourself.
"Amemiya-kun! Why are you distancing yourself from us?" Chika noticed immediately and questioned him.
"Because Fujiwara-san is too popular," Amemiya replied in a dark tone.
"Huh?"
"Walking with Fujiwara-san means you'll get photographed in secret, end up in gossip columns, and eventually be confronted by boys jealous of your closeness to her. The next thing you know, you're in the hospital with broken bones. Best to keep a safe distance."
"That's way too much!" Chika protested.
The three continued their walk and soon left the school grounds.
About ten minutes later, they arrived at the entrance of a local game center.
"This is it," Amemiya announced.
Japan, being the birthplace of arcade games, saw an explosion of these in the '80s and '90s. However, with the rise of modern technology, arcade games had faded, their golden age long past. Yet, they still managed to cling to life, surviving through a loyal fanbase.
"The game center is on the second floor," Amemiya said, leading the way as they ascended the stairs. The walls were plastered with colorful game posters, boasting a variety of games: adventure, racing, card games, rhythm games, and, of course, fighting games.
Chika glanced around curiously, her eyes landing on a girl wearing a VR helmet, fully immersed in an underwater treasure-hunting game on a large screen. "Oh wow, what's that?"
"That's the VR experience area," Amemiya explained. "The equipment here is much better than home setups. It feels more immersive."
"I want to try it!" Chika said, clasping her hands together as her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Maybe later. For now, we should focus on the task," Amemiya reminded her, guiding them toward the arcade machines. He powered one on, and the screen flickered to life with the familiar title of 'Street Fighter 4'.
"To make it easier, I suggest you both choose the same character," Amemiya instructed, explaining the basic controls and moving a stool out of the way. "You can start now."
Kaguya and Chika sat down, one on each side of the machine.
"You just need to insert a coin," Amemiya added.
"Huh? What do we insert?" Chika asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"There's a coin slot by your legs. Put a 100-yen coin in."
"Oh, right." Chika fumbled around, then suddenly froze. "Hey... where's my wallet?"
Kaguya sighed, exasperated. "You left it in your school bag and forgot to bring it with you."
"Oh no!" Chika knocked her fist lightly on her head and turned her pleading eyes to Amemiya. "I left so quickly, I forgot my wallet... Amemiya-kun, help me out, please!"
Amemiya sighed and handed over a 100-yen coin.
As he did, he noticed Kaguya staring at him intently. He raised an eyebrow. "You forgot yours too?"
Kaguya shook her head, maintaining her cool demeanor. "I don't carry money when I go out."
Amemiya blinked in surprise. "What?"
"I never bring money. My driver handles everything," she said with a hint of pride. "For lunch, my personal chef delivers my meal."
'Ah, of course. Only a true heiress wouldn't carry money.'
Amemiya sighed again and handed her a 100-yen coin as well. "Please accept this, milady."
For the briefest moment, the corner of Kaguya's lips curved into a slight smile as she gracefully accepted the coin.
With the help of Amemiya, the two girls selected their characters, both choosing Jamie to keep things balanced.
"Kaguya-chan, let's fight!" Chika said, straightening up, her eyes full of competitive fire. "I won't hold back!"
"Do your best," Kaguya responded coolly.
And with that, the battle began.
It was the first time both girls had ever played arcade games. With no prior experience, they were naturally clumsy in their gameplay. Observing this, Amamiya silently evaluated their performance as a "kindergarten-level battle."
He felt confident he could defeat ten of them with ease.
"I lost..." Chika sighed softly, staring at her character bleeding on the screen. "But that was a satisfying battle."
It wasn't truly satisfying, but it was still fun—like a nice side dish with rice.
"How's it going?" Amemiya asked, turning toward Kaguya.
A flicker of brightness appeared in Kaguya's usually cold, doll-like eyes, and she gave a slight nod. "I've made some progress with the 'Hundred Kills'."
"Finally, we can complete the mission!" Chika's mood brightened, and she declared cheerfully, "Kaguya-chan, let's continue the duel."
A short while later...
"The mission progress is still at 1%," Kaguya calmly analyzed, gently resting her chin on her hand. "It seems that each person only contributes a little progress, and repeated defeats don't count... Natsuki-san, you should play."
With a subtle tone, Amemiya asked, "Are you sure you want me to play?"
"Why not?"
"Because you'll lose."
"Amamiya-kun, you're quite confident," Chika retorted.