"Replenishing magic..." Kaguya furrowed her brow slightly, recalling the term. "I've heard that phrase before in games. Does it mean restoring magic power?"
"...Something like that," Chika responded, her gaze wandering.
"Then let's get started." Kaguya crossed her arms, her sharp gaze landing on Amamiya. "We need to replenish her magic as soon as possible."
Concern was visible in her eyes.
Facing her mother, even as a ghost, Kaguya couldn't maintain her usual composure.
"Sorry, I can't help with that. Don't look at me." Amamiya flatly refused.
If he attempted to replenish Shimizu's magic in front of Kaguya, surely he would be inviting death.
No question about it.
Who could stand by and watch their mother kissing her classmates, even if it were purely about magic replenishment?
"Since Chika suggested it, she should be the one to help," Amamiya quickly passed the burden along. "I don't know how to do it."
"I don't either," Chika said hurriedly. "Only boys can help with magic replenishment."
That's just because you don't know better. Girls can replenish magic with just as much ease!
Kaguya frowned, clearly sensing something was being kept from her. "What exactly does 'magic replenishment' mean?"
Amamiya silently walked over to the window, avoiding the question. "You two talk. I'll just admire the view outside."
"Kaguya-chan, that's an area good children shouldn't venture into," Chika awkwardly deflected. "Maybe let's open the blind box first? We might find something useful for replenishing Big Sis strength."
"Big Sis?" Kaguya raised an eyebrow.
"Hehe~" Chika struck a playful pose, making a scissors gesture near her face, her smile bright as sunshine. "From now on, you'll call her 'Mom,' and I'll call her 'Big Sis!' We'll have our own little thing going."
"Exactly!" Shimizu chimed in, mimicking the gesture with a radiant grin. "Chika-chan is so cute—I'll definitely make her my little sister."
Kaguya stood silently, frowning at their antics.
Who wants to be dragged into this? Just call her Aunt, at least!
"Amamiya-kun, come over here," Chika called out. "Time to open the blind box."
"On my way."
...
A short while later, all three were staring dejectedly at the contents.
"I saw a horoscope show this morning," Chika muttered, puffing her cheeks. "It said my fortune was bad today... It was right. What am I supposed to do with a wool trimmer?"
[Item: Wool Trimmer]
[Description: It's just a regular wool trimmer, no hidden functions.]
[Note: Please refrain from trimming anything other than wool.]
Amamiya stifled a sigh, his patience already thinning. The commentary was far from serious. His own blind box had also yielded nothing of use—typical. It was a rare occurrence for Chika's luck to turn out this poorly.
"What now?" Kaguya asked, her eyes shifting back to her mother. "Should we try the 'magic replenishment' Chika mentioned?"
"Absolutely not," Amamiya rejected the idea immediately.
She's really pushing me to the brink! If I actually tried replenishing her mother's magic, I would be dead meat!
"Magic replenishment is just a theory, and there's no guarantee it'll work," Amamiya said gravely. "We should come up with other solutions."
"Kaguya-chan, you're worried about your mother?" Shimizu's voice was filled with warmth. "That makes me so happy."
Kaguya's lips twitched, and she turned her head away, avoiding her mother's gaze.
"I can ask the other players," Chika suggested, raising her hand eagerly. "More heads are better than one, right? Someone else might know something about guardian spirits."
Amamiya gave her a questioning look. "You have contact info for other players?"
"Not all of them," Chika admitted. "But I've exchanged info with a few female players I'm close to—like Rikka and Asuka."
"Some players are a bit more cautious and don't want to share their details with me," she added with a slight pout.
That's perfectly reasonable. The strange part is how easily you managed to befriend anyone at all.
"But wait—how do you exchange info? Phones aren't allowed in the game, right?" Amamiya asked curiously.
"Ah, there's this blood-stained diary we got during an item exchange," Chika explained, pulling out a small black notebook. "You can write other players' contact details in it, and then when we're back in the real world, you just add them on LINE."
"I'm actually trying to set up a player mutual-aid group. Everyone can share info and help each other out!" Chika clenched her fists with determination. "Unity is strength!"
Such radiance... Chika is truly a beacon of hope for humanity!
Amamiya couldn't help but pause for a moment, lost in thought.
Kaguya was aiming to establish dominance and exploit others like a cold capitalist.
Chika, on the other hand, wanted to build a community where kindness and cooperation thrived.
What about him?
Amamiya pondered for a second.
Maybe he just missed Miss Sadako and Miss Cow Lady...
"I've sent the message," Chika chirped, her phone in hand. "Don't worry, Kaguya-chan, we'll have an answer soon."
"I'm not worried," Kaguya said coolly, though her expression said otherwise.
Chika leaned closer, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Kaguya-chan, you're saying one thing but thinking another."
"I'm not."
"That's so mean!" Shimizu playfully covered her cheeks. "Kaguya-chan doesn't care about her poor mother at all."
Kaguya: "..."
Between the two of them, even the unshakable Kaguya couldn't hold her composure.
"By the way, Amamiya-kun," Chika shifted gears, suddenly adopting a more serious tone. "Tell me about those earthbound spirits. I want to write everything down for Rikka."
She had already flipped open her notebook, pen in hand, eager to start jotting down notes.
Amamiya, glad for the distraction, quickly shared what he knew.
Information was key, after all, and hoarding it would only hinder progress. He was suddenly looking forward to the idea of Chika's mutual-aid group for players.
Not long after, Chika's phone buzzed.
"Someone got back to me!" she exclaimed, raising her phone triumphantly. "It's Asuya-chan!"
Both Kaguya and Amamiya perked up.
"Asuya-chan said she's heard from other players that when a guardian spirit weakens, they fall into a deep sleep," Chika explained, reading the message aloud. "It seems that emotions fuel them. When the owner is in a heightened emotional state—like when they're really happy—it generates energy to restore the guardian spirit's strength. It's kind of like... wireless charging!"
"Got it," Kaguya nodded, visibly relieved.
"Amamiya-kun," Chika turned to him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Are you happy?"
"Not at all," Amamiya replied flatly, lounging on the sofa. "I was randomly dragged into a horror game. Happiness is nowhere in sight."
"So... we need to make you happy first?" Chika tapped her chin, seriously contemplating the idea.
"Don't bother," Amamiya dismissed. "My life is boring."
"Uh..." Shimizu raised her hand tentatively. "Amamiya-kun seemed very happy last night. I even sensed something... strange entering his body."
Amamiya: "..."