"What did you just say?" Amamiya turned his head and glanced at Umi.
"Ahem, I choked on my saliva," Umi coughed awkwardly, raising her right hand to wave it off as if brushing away the tension. She could feel her face rapidly heating up. "The evening breeze is a bit too warm tonight."
'Not good, not good, not good!'
What was she thinking just now? How had she ended up imagining Amamiya as her boyfriend? Did this mean... she liked him?
It all felt like it was happening too fast! But, wait... was it really that fast? They had been classmates since junior high, though they'd hardly spoken to each other back then...
While she was lost in thought, a hand suddenly reached out, grabbing her wrist and pulling her into a firm embrace.
"A-Amamiya-kun?" Umi stammered as she found herself nestled in his arms. Her heartbeat quickened as she looked up at him, her breath catching in her throat.
Amamiya, noticing her flushed face, raised an eyebrow and said in an exasperated tone, "What are you daydreaming about? You were about to walk straight into a telephone pole."
"Huh?" Umi blinked in confusion before realizing there was indeed a pole right beside her. If Amamiya hadn't pulled her aside, she would have walked headfirst into it.
"I wasn't daydreaming," she mumbled, averting her eyes guiltily. "I was... just thinking about life."
Amamiya's expression softened into amusement. "Oh? And what profound insights did you come to?"
"Life is... unpredictable." Umi hesitated before adding awkwardly.
"Large intestine wrapped in small intestine?" Amamiya teased, deadpan.
"Gross! What on earth are you talking about?" Umi retorted, putting her hand on her waist, irritated. "What I 'meant' is you never know which will come first—tomorrow or an accident—so you shouldn't leave any regrets."
With that said, something clicked inside Umi's mind, and her earlier confusion melted away.
Yes, life was unpredictable. So, why not face her feelings head-on?
Without looking back, she started walking ahead with a renewed spring in her step. "Come on, hurry up."
"..."
Moments later, Amamiya and Umi arrived at the bustling commercial street. Unlike the quiet residential area, the shops here were still open, and the street was lively. Groups of office workers fresh out of work were hanging out in izakayas, and the nightlife was just getting started.
"Hanamori-chan is over there, in front of the café," Umi pointed towards the entrance.
Standing near the café's door, a girl was waiting alone, glancing around from time to time. It was Hanamori, the teammate Umi had recently met in their last game.
As soon as she spotted Amamiya and Umi, Hanamori's face lit up and she quickly walked towards them.
"Hanamori-chan, good evening!" Umi greeted her warmly but stopped in her tracks, startled. "Wait, Hanamori-chan... are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
Hanamori's response was immediate, though her haggard appearance and forced smile told a different story.
What Umi didn't realize was that Hanamori wasn't who she seemed to be. It was Hayasaka, the undercover spy maid, disguised for this meeting.
To prepare for her undercover mission, Hayasaka had gone all out with a new look. She wore a blue-and-white sailor outfit, and her trademark side ponytail had been swapped for a small braid tucked neatly behind her right ear. The transformation into the cute schoolgirl persona, "Hanamori-chan," was complete.
But despite the effort, Umi noticed one glaring detail.
"Your dark circles are way too heavy!" Umi couldn't help but exclaim. "Even programmers don't have bags that bad!"
'Sorry, it's all part of the disguise', Hayasaka thought to herself. The dark circles weren't that bad in reality—it was mostly makeup. A calculated look, designed to give her a slightly worn-out appearance.
After all, when you're in trouble, begging for help is the last resort. But looking like you need help? That's the best way to get it.
Hayasaka lightly bit her lower lip and whispered, "I've been working during the day lately, and when I get home at night, there are terrible evil spirits in my room. I can't sleep at all."
Amamiya, ever practical, suggested, "You could change rooms."
But Hayasaka shook her head. "No, I can't. My hometown is in Yamanashi Prefecture, and I came here alone for school. The apartment I rent only has one room."
In order to keep her cover intact, Hayasaka had hurriedly rented a rundown apartment. It was barely 20 square meters, but it had all the necessary paperwork in place to avoid suspicion. Even if someone came to investigate, they wouldn't find anything amiss.
"That sounds awful, dealing with that all by yourself," Umi said, her sympathy growing for her friend.
"Please take this," Hayasaka offered a box of strawberry daifuku, a subtle look of hesitation and concern on her face. "Um, Amamiya-kun... are you free tomorrow? If you are, could you come to my apartment and help me drive away the evil spirits? Please."
She sighed, looking genuinely distressed. "I can't keep going like this. Today, I was so exhausted at work, I almost spilled coffee on a customer. If I lose my job, I won't be able to make ends meet."
Umi, looking serious, made up her mind. "No need to wait until tomorrow. Let's go now."
"Thank you," Hayasaka said, bowing gratefully.
"What are you thanking me for? We're comrades who've faced life-and-death situations together," Umi replied with a smile. "Where's your apartment?"
Hayasaka provided the address.
"Hmm, I've never heard of it..." Umi pulled out her phone to check the location. "Whoa, it's actually an hour's drive from here?"
Hayasaka lowered her head, looking like a child who had done something wrong. "Sorry... it's because the rent is cheap."
Umi looked up at Amamiya, hesitating for a moment. The distance was too far. It was already ten at night, and the round trip would take them into the early morning.
Amamiya then spoke up, "I've recently learned a new skill. It can give you the ability to repel evil spirits."
"Huh?" Hayasaka blinked in confusion, playing her part perfectly.
Umi chimed in excitedly, explaining, "It's Amamiya-kun's 'Copy and Paste' ability. He can transfer the power to repel evil spirits to you, so when you go home, you'll be able to handle them on your own!"
"Really? Wow!"
Success!
Hayasaka narrowed her eyes slightly. In her current role as the temporary teammate 'Hanamori,' she wasn't supposed to know about Amamiya's unique skill. In order to exploit the information about his ability, she had to coax it out naturally. Given Umi's kind and trusting nature, all she needed to do was play the helpless victim, and Umi would take care of the rest. Everything was unfolding perfectly.
"...Please, Amamiya-kun," Hayasaka bowed her head, pretending to be sincerely grateful.
Amamiya added calmly, "I can transfer the power to repel evil spirits, but it requires physical contact. The duration varies depending on the person's physique, but it usually takes at least five minutes."
"Don't worry, Hanamori-chan," Umi quickly reassured her. "The physical contact just means holding hands."
"H-holding hands?" Hayasaka placed a hand over her chest, feigning hesitation. She bit her lip once more as though grappling with the decision. After a moment, she nodded as if she had finally made up her mind. "Please, Amamiya-kun."
Amamiya extended his hand, his expression unruffled. "Give me your hand."
Hayasaka softly agreed but didn't move right away. Instead, she glanced over at Umi, as though seeking her approval. "Is it really okay?"
Umi flashed a bright smile and winked. "Don't worry, I won't get jealous. Friends are supposed to help each other, right?"
"If you're sure..." Hayasaka hesitated, her gaze dropping to her toes before she finally extended her hand to Amamiya.
"Then I'll start," Amamiya replied calmly, taking her hand.
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