Just like that, the three of them left the classroom together and headed toward the school gate.
Everyone else was walking into the building, while Amamiya Natsuki and the girls walked out, drawing plenty of curious stares along the way.
"Wow, this really does feel like skipping class. It's kind of exciting," Fujiwara Chika said cheerfully, her footsteps light and her eyes sparkling—like a deer finally escaping the zoo and dashing into the forest.
What kind of excitement is that?
If you want real excitement, try coming to school tomorrow without wearing panties!
"Kaguya-chan, have you ever skipped class before?" Chika asked with interest.
"No."
Shinomiya Kaguya had already calmed down. Hands folded neatly at her lower abdomen, she walked with impeccable posture, every movement exuding elegance.
The aura of [Ice Kaguya] was in full effect. Wherever she passed, students instinctively stepped aside, too intimidated to get close.
"I heard once that a school life without skipping class is incomplete," Chika said wistfully.
Kaguya turned her head and replied in her usual cool tone, "Have you skipped class before, Fujiwara-san?"
"Hehe~" Chika laughed proudly, hands on her hips. "One time! Last summer during PE class. The teacher made us run laps around the field, and it was so hot I just did one lap, then hid in a corner the rest of class!"
Kaguya gave her a gentle, indulgent smile—the kind one gives a puppy chewing a slipper.
"Fujiwara-san is truly adorable~"
Amamiya Natsuki silently nodded… then casually stepped a few paces away from the two girls.
Scientific studies confirm: stupidity is contagious.
If you spend too long with a fool, the fool won't get smarter—you'll just get dumber.
"Natsuki-kun, why are you walking so far away?" Chika noticed the distance and frowned.
"Because Fujiwara-san is too popular."
"Huh?"
Amamiya Natsuki adopted a serious, gloomy tone: "If I walk next to you, people will secretly take pictures. Tabloid headlines will explode. After school, jealous boys will jump me in an alley and break my bones. For my safety, I have to keep my distance."
"That's way too dramatic!"
"… …"
The three of them soon exited the school gate.
Ten minutes later, Amamiya stopped in front of a building and said, "We're here."
It was a game center.
Japan is the birthplace of arcade gaming.
In the '80s and '90s, arcade games swept across the globe. But with the rise of home consoles, the golden age faded fast. Still, in Japan, arcades clung to life. Though diminished, the culture persisted—and a dedicated player base remained.
"The arcade's on the second floor," Natsuki said, leading them up the stairs.
They turned the corner, and the walls exploded into a riot of color: rows of vibrant posters, flashing lights, claw machines, capsule machines—an overstimulating paradise for any gamer.
"Whoa. It's so clean," Chika remarked in surprise. "I thought it'd be darker and kinda sketchy, like a horror movie backroom."
That's a common misconception.
Arcades are part of the service industry. Cleanliness and order are vital—nobody wants to play in a place that looks like a crime scene.
Since it was still early, there weren't many customers. The arcade was quiet and peaceful.
As they passed by the VR section, Chika's eyes lit up. She pointed at a girl wearing a helmet and holding a sensor, immersed in an underwater treasure-hunting game.
"Hey, what game is that?"
"That's the VR experience zone," Natsuki explained. "The gear here is way better than home VR. The experience is top-tier."
"I wanna play!" Chika clasped her hands before her chest, eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"We'll come back later if we have time." Natsuki walked over to a fighting game machine and booted it up. "Right now, we're here for one reason: fighting games. That's our mission."
The screen lit up with the iconic opening of Street Fighter IV.
"To be safe, both of you should pick the same character," Natsuki instructed. He gave them a basic rundown of controls and moved a stool out of the way. "Alright, give it a try."
Kaguya and Chika sat down—one on the left, one on the right.
"You can insert coins now," Natsuki reminded.
"What do we use?" Chika looked down, confused.
"There's a slot under your side. Just pop in a 100-yen coin."
"Oh." Chika started fumbling. "Wait—where's my wallet?"
Kaguya sighed. "You left it in your schoolbag. You forgot to take it."
"Oops." Chika tapped her forehead with a fist, then gave Natsuki a pitiful puppy-dog look. "I was in such a rush this morning, I forgot my wallet~"
"… …"
Natsuki sighed and silently handed her a coin.
Then he noticed Kaguya staring at him expectantly.
"…You forgot yours too?"
"I didn't forget," Kaguya replied coldly, crossing her arms. "I never bring money when I go out."
As expected of the Shinomiya heiress.
"You go to school without money?"
"I have a chauffeur."
"What about lunch?"
"My chef delivers bento at noon."
"… …"
Truly an evil capitalist.
Natsuki wordlessly handed her a coin. "Here you go, young lady."
Kaguya's lips curled into the faintest smile as she accepted it and slid it into the machine.
With Natsuki's help, the girls selected the same character—Jamie—and entered the match.
"Kaguya-chan, prepare yourself!" Chika sat up straight, determination in her eyes. "I won't go easy on you!"
"Come at me."
"… …"
To be fair, neither girl had ever touched an arcade machine before. Their inputs were clumsy, random, and awkward.
From Natsuki's perspective behind them, the match resembled a fight between toddlers. Kindergarten-tier.
No exaggeration—he could probably beat ten of them at once.
"I lost…" Chika slumped in her seat as her character collapsed dramatically on screen. "But that was… really satisfying."
Not really. But watching you struggle is pretty entertaining.
"How was it?" Natsuki turned to Kaguya.
A spark lit up in the ice sculpture girl's crimson eyes. She nodded slightly.
"My progress increased. One down."
"Great! That means the mission is possible!" Chika perked up again. "Kaguya-chan, go go go! Keep battling!"
But moments later—
"…Still at 1%." Kaguya lightly touched her chin in thought. "That means defeating the same opponent repeatedly doesn't count. Each person probably only contributes once… Natsuki-san, you play next."
Natsuki narrowed his eyes. "You really want me to play?"
"What? Are you scared?"
"…You'll lose."
Kaguya narrowed her eyes too, arms folded.
"Natsuki-san is very ambitious, I see."