"Boom!"
Amamiya swung a baseball bat he summoned from his inventory and struck the wall with a loud thud.
The muffled sound immediately drew the attention of both the humans and the two dogs nearby.
As Amamiya hefted the bat and made a show of swinging it through the air, the aggressive dog, which had been barking ferociously moments ago, instantly quieted down.
Fear of a beating is not exclusive to humans—dogs are no exception. The instinct to bully the weak while fearing the strong is deeply rooted in both species.
The primal fear of sticks has been etched into the genes of every dog through generations.
This principle has guided age-old advice: if a dog guards its food too possessively, growls, bares its teeth at family members, or tries to bite, what's the solution?
Pick up a suitable stick and teach it a lesson. If one time doesn't work, repeat until the lesson is learned.
In short, anything—dog or human—can be made to behave under proper discipline.
"Phew…"
Seeing that the aggressive dog had stopped growling, Moeha let out a sigh of relief and quickly pulled Pace back to her side.
"Woof woof!"
Pace, recognizing Amamiya, wagged his tail enthusiastically.
When Chika had once invited Amamiya over to her house to exorcise an evil spirit, he had fed Pace some snacks. Despite being timid, the little dog clearly had a sharp memory and hadn't forgotten Amamiya's kindness.
Seeing this, the woman holding the larger dog frowned and spoke coldly.
"How dare you swing at my Marshmallow?"
Amamiya blinked in disbelief.
Your dog is clearly a large hunting breed—ferocious and wild. Why on earth would you name it Marshmallow?
Maintaining his composure, Amamiya replied calmly, "As a baseball enthusiast, it's perfectly normal for me to practice my swing every now and then, don't you think?"
Then, with a sharp gaze, he added, "If I'm not mistaken, keeping dangerous breeds like yours is prohibited within city limits."
Moeha immediately chimed in, sensing that Amamiya was siding with her. "That's right! It's far too dangerous to keep such a large, aggressive dog in the city. It almost attacked Pace just now!"
The woman, unimpressed, scoffed.
"Hmph. Did it actually bite?"
Her dismissive tone implied she didn't take the matter seriously at all—likely a privilege of being part of the upper class, where rules that govern ordinary people rarely apply.
Moeha clenched her fists, shouting angrily, "It'll be too late if it bites Pace!"
The woman sneered, her voice icy.
"Your dog was the one who approached mine first, wasn't it? Seems like provocation to me."
"It wasn't a provocation!" Moeha retorted indignantly. "It was just saying hello!"
"So, you're admitting it approached my dog first?"
"That, uh..." Moeha faltered, her confidence wavering. She turned to Amamiya, looking for help.
This younger girl bore a striking resemblance to Chika—big, lively eyes and a similar mischievous aura. Though shorter, her unexpectedly impressive figure added a distinct charm.
In a contest of sheer presence, Moeha could easily overshadow three Kaguyas.
Amamiya stepped forward from the shadow of the building, breaking the tension.
"Since both sides seem to have some fault, wouldn't it be better if you both apologized to each other?"
His calm voice carried an air of finality. Trying to argue about who was right or wrong here was pointless—what mattered was resolving the situation peacefully.
The woman raised an eyebrow but quickly masked her annoyance with a sly smile.
"Hmm… That does make sense. I was wrong after all."
"Eh?!"
Moeha's jaw dropped, her wide eyes darting between the two.
Moments ago, the woman's haughty tone and dismissive attitude showed no intention of backing down. What could have caused such a sudden change?
The woman turned to Moeha with a soft smile, her voice unexpectedly gentle.
"I'm sorry if my Marshmallow scared you just now."
Caught off guard, Moeha stammered, "Uh… It's fine. Pace was in the wrong too." She bowed slightly, still unsure of what was happening.
The woman then glanced back at Amamiya, her tone warm and inviting.
"I've had a rough day, and my mood got the better of me earlier. As an apology, may I treat you to a cup of coffee?"
Her eyes lingered on Amamiya as a coy smile graced her lips. She even gave a playful wink.
Amamiya: "…"
Was that… a wink just now?
It had to be.
The offer of coffee was just a cover—it was obvious she had other intentions!
Earlier this morning, the spy maid at home had also thrown him a wink, but compared to the woman standing before him, the maid's attempt was leagues apart.
After all, one was like a scholar, skilled only in theory but lacking practical experience, while the other was a seasoned "driver" with real-world expertise. Whether in terms of experience or mileage, there was simply no comparison.
Amamiya quickly understood the situation.
It had to be the passive effect of his title: Warrior of Love.
Though the woman in front of him was impeccably maintained, subtle wrinkles around her eyes betrayed her age. She wore a ring on her right hand—a clear sign she was married.
Still, being someone's wife didn't exempt her from the influence of the Warrior of Love's halo!
"Thank you, but no thanks," Amamiya declined politely. "I have other matters to attend to."
To be fair, though the woman was a bit older, her appearance and figure were undeniably attractive. Every smile, every movement exuded charm—enough to make her an ideal coffee companion for many.
But Amamiya stayed focused on his goal. Chika was still waiting for him, and he wasn't about to detour into dangerous territory by hopping aboard a "big truck."
Driving a truck down that road was a one-way trip—there'd be no turning back.
"That's fine," the elegant lady replied, unfazed by his rejection. She retrieved her phone with a radiant smile. "How about we exchange contact information? We can grab coffee another day when you're free."
Amamiya: "…"
The Warrior of Love's halo is terrifying…
This woman is actively pursuing me, trying to lure me into driving that big truck!
And this was just the passive effect of his title. What would happen if he activated its active skill?
Would she completely lose control, transforming into a loyal pet begging for scraps?
That can't possibly happen… can it?
He pondered the matter carefully, concluding that the title's effects likely depended on various factors, such as physical appearance, emotional dissatisfaction, spiritual emptiness, or other personal struggles.
After all, he had passed many women on the way here, yet none had been as forward as this lady.
"Eh?! Eh?!"
Moeha, standing nearby, blinked in confusion. It took her a moment to realize what was happening.
This… this woman was trying to…!
As a third-year junior high school student, Moeha's knowledge was neither too shallow nor particularly broad, but she was far from being an innocent, clueless girl like Kaguya. It took her a moment, but she finally grasped the older woman's intentions.
It's that kind of thing… isn't it?!
It had to be!
No way!
The Senpai had stepped in to help her earlier. There was no way she could just stand by and let him fall into such an obvious trap. If she allowed him to wander off the righteous path, she'd regret it forever!
Steeling her resolve, Moeha stepped forward, her face flushed red. She boldly grabbed Amamiya's arm, her twin ponytails trembling slightly as she stammered:
"Natsuki Senpai, let's go!"
"Huh? You know me?"
Amamiya blinked in surprise, glancing down at her.
He had never met Moeha before, let alone spoken to her. Could it be… Chika's doing?
"Senpai, we can talk as we walk…"
Still blushing furiously, Moeha clung tightly to Amamiya's arm, dragging him along.
Stay calm, Moeha!
You're saving a wandering lamb from losing his way!
As they walked, Moeha tilted her head up at him and began to explain, "I'm a student at Shuchi'in as well, though I'm only in my third year of junior high. A few days ago, when I visited the high school with some friends, I overheard your name..."
Her eyes sparkled with admiration. "Natsuki-senpai, you defeated Shinomiya-senpai and became the top student in the grade. That's so amazing! Everyone in our junior high knows about you!"
Amamiya shrugged nonchalantly. "I never imagined I'd become a campus celebrity."
Becoming a campus celebrity isn't actually difficult.
First, you need to be good-looking—attractive people naturally draw attention.
Second, you need to achieve something remarkable, like defeating Kaguya and becoming the top student in Shuuin's grade rankings.
Amamiya met both criteria, so it wasn't surprising that she had become a campus celebrity.
"Wait a moment..."
The elegant woman behind them called out while holding her dog.
"She actually caught up with us?"
Moeha was about to let go of Amamiya's arm, but hearing the woman's voice, she turned back and saw her chasing after them. Instantly on alert, Moeha tightened her grip on Amamiya's arm and whispered urgently:
"Senpai, run!"
"..."
After walking for a while, they finally managed to lose the persistent woman who clearly had ulterior motives. Yet Amamiya soon felt an intense, incredulous gaze on him.
Stare—
Sensing it, he looked across the street and spotted a girl with a black bow in her hair, holding two crepes in her hands. Her wide eyes were locked on him, her pink lips slightly parted, and her face wore a complex expression of betrayal mixed with indignation.
"Hey, onee-chan?"
Moeha noticed the girl as well and muttered, "That's strange… why does my sister look so angry?"
Of course she was angry. Even Kaguya wouldn't have been able to keep her composure in this situation!
Amamiya glanced down at his arm, still being tightly held by the junior high school girl.
It had to be said—despite being a junior high student, Moeha was surprisingly well-developed, even surpassing several Kaguyas. The Fujiwara family's genes were truly impressive.
Moeha flushed bright red when she realized she was still clinging to him. Quickly, she let go and bowed deeply.
"I'm so sorry, Senpai!"
The apology should've been directed at her sister, not him.
"I must have caused you trouble today, Senpai," Moeha stammered, her face still pink. "My sister is right across the street, so I'll go over and head home with her. I'm sure Natsuki-senpai has other important matters, so I won't keep you."
No need to leave—your sister can go here.
Amamiya glanced at Chika, who was still across the street, silently asking with his eyes if she wanted to come over and acknowledge him.
"Hmph!"
Chika puffed out her cheeks, turned her head away, and made a clear I don't know you gesture.
Resigned, Amamiya said to Moeha, "You can go ahead."
"Goodbye, Natsuki-senpai," Moeha said, ready to leave with her dog. "By the way, my name is Moeha, Moeha Fujiwara. Please remember my name, Senpai!"
No need to introduce yourself—I already know who you are!
Amamiya stood still, watching as Moeha ran across the street with her dog. The two pink-haired sisters began whispering to each other, but they were too far away for him to hear what was being said.
Whatever the exchange was, it didn't last long. The sisters eventually walked off together, the dog trotting alongside them.
Amamiya waited silently where he stood.
After a while, Chika returned.
"That girl earlier was my sister, Moeha," Chika said, her tone heavy with resentment. Clearly, she had extracted the full story from her sister.
"I know," Amamiya replied with a nod. "I've seen a picture of her in your room before. She was holding Pace's hand in it."
Not to mention the time during their video call when Chika forgot to turn off her camera and Moeha made an impromptu appearance—even in the bathroom.
Chika muttered, "I already know what happened… It's such a coincidence that you two ran into each other."
"It wasn't fate that brought Moeha and me together," Amamiya said flatly. "It was actually you."
Chika: "…"
If she hadn't called him over, he wouldn't have been anywhere near the area.
So… does that make me the "destiny" here?
The more Chika thought about it, the angrier she became.
"By the way, Moeha said she wanted to buy you a gift to thank you," Chika said, her hands clasped behind her back. Tilting her head slightly, she asked, "...Moeha is cute, isn't she?"
"Very cute," Amamiya answered truthfully.
It wasn't a matter of opinion—her cuteness was plain for anyone to see.
"Moeha is just a junior high school student," Chika continued. "It's illegal to pursue someone that young. Amamiya-kun, no matter how cute Moeha is, you shouldn't let yourself walk the path of crime."
"You underestimate junior high students these days," Amamiya countered. "There's already a certain girl with a large forehead who's become the ultimate love rival in junior high. Besides, Moeha will be a high schooler next year, right?"
"Huh?"
Chika tilted her head slightly, the light in her eyes dimming as she stared at him.
"Don't worry, I promise I won't bully Moeha," Amamiya said as he reached out and took the secretary's hand. Her skin was soft, smooth, and pleasant to the touch. "But you've misunderstood the reason."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Chika looked at him, puzzled.
Amamiya met her gaze and explained, "It doesn't matter whether she's a junior high school student or an elementary school student. What truly matters is that she's your sister."
Even someone as chaotic as Chika—who often focused solely on food, fun, and idle chatter—would never stand by and allow her sister to be mistreated.
Chika's cheeks turned faintly red. She averted her eyes and muttered, "You can decide that kind of thing yourself... Wait, did you just say it's okay for elementary school students?"
"I did."
"I didn't realize you had a lolicon tendency."
Without batting an eye, Amamiya replied, "I admitted it at the restaurant."
Chika: "..."
There was no need to continue that particular conversation.
After successfully applying the evil spirit repellent charm, Chika treated him to a meal. They spent the evening exploring the commercial district, sampling all sorts of delicious foods until 9 PM. By the time Chika could eat no more, she waved goodbye contentedly and returned home with Amamiya.
No further words were exchanged that night.
The next day arrived in the blink of an eye.
Amamiya had been hoping to spend a peaceful Sunday morning at home, but shortly after waking up, his phone buzzed with a message from Sajuna.
"...Are you free this morning?"
Amamiya: "I've taken a screenshot."
"Huh?"
"This is the first time you have messaged me first all weekend."
"It's only been one day!" Sajuna retorted. "Besides, you didn't take the initiative to message me, either!"
"So, are you free this morning? Planning to play the magical girl again?"
"Of course not. It's a rare day off—I just want to relax at home." Sajuna quickly added, "Actually, it's about Komi-san. She said a terrifying evil spirit appeared at her house yesterday, and it hasn't left since. She's hoping you can help her get rid of it."
Amamiya sighed. "I added Komi's contact info two days ago. Why didn't she message me directly?"
"She's too shy," Sajuna replied with a resigned tone. "Anyway, see you later."