"I really don't want to take this test."
For once, Chika showed a hint of worry. "I haven't been studying properly lately. What if I fail?"
"The only cure for stress is delicious food," Amamiya teased without mercy. "You ate so much in the restaurant yesterday—worth it, even if you fail today."
Despite knowing the exam was today, she had spent the whole day playing around. Why didn't she return home earlier to study?
Chika blinked in surprise. "That... kind of makes sense."
As they left the activity room, Amamiya could feel a pair of eyes watching him. He turned and caught the expression of Kaguya—Miss Ice Princess—who looked like she wanted to say something but hesitated.
"Natsuki-san, what's wrong?" she asked, quickly masking her emotions.
"Nothing," Amamiya replied, puzzled as he looked away. Maybe he had imagined it.
Shimizu, observing the scene, smiled brightly.
"I'll head to the classroom first."
Kaguya locked the door, acting as though nothing had happened, and briskly walked ahead.
"Mrs. Shimizu, what are you planning today?" Amamiya asked, turning to the floating figure of Shimizu.
"I want to relax today," Shimizu said with a playful pout. "Amamiya-kun won't refuse me, will you?"
"As long as you don't play any pranks or bully anyone," he replied cautiously.
"Don't worry, I'm an adult!" Shimizu gave a cheerful scissors gesture. "How could I ever bully Kaguya-chan?"
You already said it!
"...Do as you wish."
Amamiya wisely chose neutrality. After all, what harm was there if someone's mother teased her daughter?
Even though he could force Shimizu back into the guardian spirit realm, Amamiya had no desire to do so. She wasn't a mindless game NPC but rather a person with her own thoughts and emotions. Just because she became a guardian spirit by chance didn't mean he would force her hand.
Treat others as you would like to be treated—mutual respect and equality were essential to their relationship.
Back in the classroom, Amamiya took his seat. Shimizu placed her hands behind her back, sitting down next to Kaguya with a gleeful expression. "So happy~"
With Kaguya's seat neighbor still absent, Shimizu perched herself beside her daughter, resting her cheek in one hand. "Another wish crossed off my bucket list—taking a class with Kaguya-chan."
Kaguya: "..."
The class hadn't even started yet, so it didn't count!
"Your handwriting is lovely, Kaguya-chan," Shimizu praised as she leaned closer to examine her daughter's notes. "But it's still not as pretty as your mom's."
At this, Kaguya's competitive streak kicked in. She turned her head slightly, staring challengingly at her mother.
The super-competitive Kaguya was back online.
"S-Sorry!" Kashiwagi Asuka, a short-haired girl passing by, misread Kaguya's intense gaze as directed at her and hastily bowed in apology.
Sitting at the back, Amamiya couldn't quite hear the conversation between Kaguya and her mother, but from their body language, he could tell that Kaguya was not entirely calm.
Before long, it was time for class.
The invigilator entered the room, holding a stack of test papers and wearing a serious expression. "The exam will begin now."
At Private Shuchi'in Academy, exams were a high-stakes affair, as anyone familiar with the school knew.
Amamiya's parents were often away on business, leaving him with plenty of pocket money, but not quite enough to belong to the upper class. He had only been admitted to the prestigious academy through his own effort and talent.
Skimming the test paper, Amamiya found that most of the questions were easy, finishing the majority within thirty minutes. Only the last two questions gave him pause, as they were the key to determining class rankings.
As time ticked by, he hesitated between two possible answers. Then, an idea struck him.
From thin air, Amamiya produced half an eraser.
[Item: Blood-stained Eraser]
[Description: This eraser, stained with the blood of a top student, will erase one wrong answer.]
Out of curiosity, Amamiya tested it. Sure enough, the eraser couldn't remove correct answers, but it erased wrong ones with ease.
"It's not particularly useful… but wait."
Amamiya remembered an online post: 'If you could either win a hundred million yen or score 750 points on the college entrance exam, which would you choose?'
The answer was clear—750 points. Reaching such a score could unlock the secrets of the universe.
Although the eraser wasn't quite that powerful, being able to eliminate one wrong answer could save scientists endless hours of research. But for an exam, it felt like overkill. Reluctantly, Amamiya stored the eraser away.
The day passed quickly, and the exams concluded at 3:30 PM.
Amamiya stretched after standing, ready to go home and take his dog for a walk. Having never joined a club, he had even less interest in one now that he was playing survival horror games in his spare time.
"Going home, Amamiya-kun?" Shimizu floated over, light as ever.
"Hmm," Amamiya said, packing his schoolbag. "What's your plan?"
"Of course, I'll stay by your side forever!" Shimizu said with her usual bright smile, flashing the scissors gesture again. "I'll never leave you alone."
That's because you can't leave, or else you would have escaped with Kaguya by now.
As they spoke, Kaguya herself approached, looking tired after enduring her mother's teasing all day. There was a hint of weariness in her eyes that softened her usual icy demeanor. "...Sorry for the trouble my mother has caused these past two days."
"It's really no trouble," Amamiya replied honestly.
Shimizu wasn't difficult to manage. Give her a smartphone, and she could entertain herself for hours.
Modern mobile phones were like magical tools from a sci-fi movie to someone who had died over a decade ago. It was no wonder she was fascinated.
Kaguya crossed her arms, her wine-red eyes focused on Amamiya. "If my mother makes any requests, or causes any issues, just let me know."
Amamiya hesitated for a moment before answering, "Honestly, all she needs is her phone."
"Mom... can be very willful," Kaguya sighed, pressing her fingers to her temple as though nursing a headache. "If she becomes too much to handle, feel free to inform me immediately."
With a smile, Amamiya replied, "To be honest, I think Auntie only acts spoiled around you."
Kaguya: "..."
What's with this man?
After all this conversation, why won't he just ask for my contact information already?
Kaguya hadn't forgotten one key lesson: 'According to "The Manual for Raising a Loyal Boyfriend," a girl must never ask a boy for his contact info. Once she asks, she loses the upper hand.'
I, Kaguya Shinomiya, will never admit defeat!