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"Eh, tying knots in cherries with your tongue?"
"Sounds... a bit vulgar."
"Exactly, it's not a proper skill."
"..."
Shinomiya Kaguya initially didn't understand why everyone said it was vulgar. She secretly searched on her phone and finally realized, a blush quickly rising to her pretty face:
"Improper! Too improper!"
Who would be so bored as to tie knots in cherries with their tongue if they were a proper person?
Of course, it's for doing improper things!
After a unified discussion among the girls, it was quickly decided that this Skill Card would be given to Amamiya Natsuki to learn and use—if needed in the future, it could always be Copy and Paste.
In fact, not all skills were practical. Many players' skills in the mutual aid group were useless, tasteless to eat, and a pity to discard.
For example, one of the most popular skills in the mutual aid group, Hair Growth Technique, its ability was to make hair grow rapidly. It was useless in dungeons but extremely popular in reality—everyone who stayed up late and suffered from insomnia knew this well; hair loss crisis doesn't just affect middle-aged men.
"I'll learn it."
Amamiya Natsuki accepted all comers. The Skill Card quickly transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into his fingertips.
What's wrong with being improper?
He just liked improper skills.
"Hmm... Successfully mastered."
Amamiya Natsuki summoned his skill panel. Unconsciously, he had already mastered quite a few skills.
First was the skill [Evil Spirit Banishing Aura], fortunately opened from a Blind Box.
The passive skill [Lie Down and Get Stronger], purchased from the rotating shop.
The combination skill [Seize and Eliminate Evil], a Blind Box reward.
The core skill [Fate Link], or rather, Copy and Paste, a reward after clearing the Ghost Ship dungeon.
The advanced skill [Seven Deadly Sins mushroom], obtained by clearing the Bedtime Fairy Tale dungeon.
There was also the title skill [Love Warrior], which belonged to a unique special skill.
The skill [Advanced Rogue Doctor], a dungeon reward after clearing Miroku Hospital.
The Golden Skill [Time Stop], which he had recently bought by spending all his money.
There was also [Curse Purification Technique], obtained from the Witch's Legacy Crystal Ball. Although the game didn't certify it, it still fell within the scope of skills.
Finally, there was the newly learned improper skill [Silver Tongue].
"The next goal is to master a burst skill," Amamiya Natsuki stroked his chin, pondering, "Preferably a second gear skill like Sun God Luffy, which comprehensively increases burst capability, to be used in conjunction with Time Stop."
Entering monsters with a white blade and exiting with a red one, once or twice might not have much effect, but ten or twenty bursts of entry and exit, even resentful spirits would have to kneel and call him daddy.
"There's still one Skill Card left." Fujiwara Chika picked up the card, "Everyone, let's see what skill it is."
[Skill Card: Bubble Blowing]
[Usage: Learn and master]
[Category: Active Skill]
[Attribute: You can create bubbles and control their movement trajectory to a certain extent. When touched by any target, the bubble will burst and transmit the image of the bursting moment to you.]
"This skill is good." Shinomiya Kaguya's eyes lit up slightly, instantly understanding the skill's effect, "It's clearly a reconnaissance type skill."
Fujiwara Chika agreed:
"Much more proper than Cherry Knotting."
Amamiya Natsuki looked over speechlessly: "Correction, that skill just now was called Silver Tongue."
Kitagawa Marin: "It's not as easy to remember as Cherry Knotting."
Miko: "Marin is right."
"..."
Regarding the ownership of this Skill Card, after a simple discussion, everyone quickly reached a consensus.
"Senpai, this Skill Card is for you." Amamiya Natsuki pushed the Skill Card towards her.
"Eh?" Koyasu Tsubame was startled, "For me?"
Then she quickly shook her head:
"No, it's fine, I didn't help much either..."
"Wearing the Pure White Bride outfit and finding the oddity with your body, doesn't that count as helping?" Fujiwara Chika retorted, "Senpai, don't underestimate your contribution."
"Exactly." Kitagawa Marin nodded in agreement, "Senpai, you haven't learned a skill yet, have you? This is a good chance to learn this Skill Card."
The Senpai hesitated: "But there's also Juju and the others..."
Shinomiya Kaguya softly said:
"Hanamori and Juju didn't come, so they naturally won't be involved in the distribution."
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"Kaguya is right, this Skill Card is for you, Senpai."
"..."
Koyasu Tsubame pursed her pink lips, hesitated for two seconds, then softly thanked them.
"I understand... Thank you, everyone."
Her luck was generally poor. Even with the luck boost from flipping a coin, she hadn't managed to open a skill from a Blind Box, and her dungeon gains were also very ordinary. As a result, she still hadn't learned a skill until today.
Now that she had a Skill Card, she couldn't help but feel a little excited.
Without hesitation.
The Skill Card quickly transformed into a streak of light, disappearing at Koyasu Tsubame's fingertips.
Although the skill's effect wasn't powerful, it could provide reconnaissance capabilities for the team, and she would no longer drag everyone down!
The desserts hadn't arrived yet, and Kitagawa Marin rested her right hand on her chin, curiously asking:
"Senpai, can you use the skill and show us what kind of bubbles they are?"
Tsubame was in a good mood. She looked around; because it was early, the dessert shop was empty. So, she smiled and agreed, saying:
"I wanted to try it out too."
Skills couldn't be explained by science. Players didn't need to know how or why.
When using a skill, one only needed to silently confirm it in their mind.
The next moment.
"Pop~"
Koyasu Tsubame only felt her pink lips pucker involuntarily, making a soft 'pop' sound, immediately followed by a fist-sized bubble appearing out of nowhere.
After realizing what happened, Koyasu Tsubame's pretty face flushed, and she quickly raised her hand to cover her pink lips, her delicate and shy appearance making Amamiya Natsuki instinctively raise his phone.
Click.
The photo was taken.
Amamiya Natsuki held up his phone, still not satisfied: "Too bad, I didn't get a good shot. Senpai, blow another one."
Koyasu Tsubame, her face red, glared at him: "I absolutely won't!"
"No wonder it's called 'blowing bubbles,' it really comes out of her mouth," Fujiwara Chika said in surprise, "How fitting."
Kitagawa Marin followed up:
"It feels similar to regular soap bubbles... Senpai, can you blow a few more bubbles?"
"Yes," Koyasu Tsubame nodded lightly, "These bubbles last for a maximum of thirty minutes, then they'll pop on their own. During this time, they'll also explode if someone touches them... I can even control the bubbles' movement, it feels very magical."
As Koyasu Tsubame spoke, she concentrated her thoughts.
The bubble that had been floating upwards quickly stopped, then slowly began to circle in the air.
Amamiya Natsuki extended a finger, popped the bubble that drifted in front of him, and asked curiously:
"What did Senpai see?"
"Hmm... for a moment, I saw Kouhai-kun's figure."
"Not bad, the reconnaissance effect is very good."
"..."
While eating dessert, Fujiwara Chika recounted the mission's completion in the mutual aid group again, and many players were waiting for the follow-up.
The mutual aid group instantly became lively.
"The mission was completed so quickly?"
"That Abnormality was pretty ordinary, huh?"
"Exactly, I thought it would be super powerful, but it was solved so easily."
After seeing the overwhelming mission process of Amamiya Natsuki and the others, many players inevitably felt a sense of disdain.
Until a passerby player said:
"Just because Leg Bro can solve it easily doesn't mean we can kill the Abnormality, but conversely, if Leg Bro can't handle it, we're definitely screwed if we encounter it."
"..."
Upon seeing this sentence, the mutual aid group immediately fell silent.
Everyone quickly put away their disdain.
That's right.
The Abnormality Faceless Woman was indeed eliminated, but that doesn't mean the Abnormality was weak. It only means that Amamiya Natsuki's group was powerful—if the Faceless Woman was really that weak, and any player could handle her, the game certainly wouldn't have given such generous rewards.
Underestimating an Abnormality could have very serious consequences.
Amamiya Natsuki sent a message:
"Where there's one, there's bound to be another. This invasion won't be the only one, and there will likely be more and more in the future... It's even possible that others are encountering Abnormalities right now. In short, everyone, please be careful. The real world is no longer that safe."
"..."
After finishing their cold drinks, everyone headed to the cinema together.
"The movies currently showing generally have mediocre reviews, and there aren't many of them," Amamiya Natsuki turned to look at the Young Lady and asked softly, "What movie do you want to watch?"
"Hmm..." Shinomiya Kaguya pondered for a moment, then said, "A comedy?"
"How about a horror movie?" Fujiwara Chika said from the side, "Every time I came to the cinema before, I never dared to watch horror movies. Since everyone is here today, I want to challenge my weakness."
Your sister! You've been a player for so long, you must have no weaknesses left!
Fujiwara Chika's suggestion quickly received support from others.
"I agree, let's watch a horror movie," Kitagawa Marin said excitedly, "I never dared to watch them before, let's see how I do now."
Koyasu Tsubame pursed her pink lips and chuckled softly:
"That sounds interesting."
Amamiya Natsuki said helplessly: "What about Miko?"
"I'm fine with anything," Miko raised her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, "Kyosuke often watches horror shows at home, so I'm already used to it."
Alright, actually, she wasn't used to it at all; she just didn't want to dampen everyone's enthusiasm.
Even if she saw evil spirits every day, she still got scared when watching horror movies.
Amamiya Natsuki walked to the ticket counter: "Since everyone says so, then we'll watch a horror movie."
"How mean," Kaguya-sama floated over, her tone resentful, "Natsuki-kun didn't even ask what I wanted to watch. Kaguya-chan, quickly help Mom teach him a lesson."
The silly the Young Lady stood beside her, showing no intention of taking her mother's side: "Mom isn't buying a ticket, so she has no right to suggest anything."
"I'm buying a ticket right now."
"Does Mom have any money?"
"..."
They bought tickets for the nearest showing, then got popcorn and cola, and the group walked into the theater.
It was only a little past nine in the morning, a weekday, and a horror movie to boot, so the theater was empty, almost like a private screening.
They sat down according to their seat numbers on the tickets. Marin sat to Amamiya Natsuki's left, and secretary Chika happened to sit to his right.
Eating popcorn and drinking cola, a few more audience members trickled in, a handful of people in total. As the lights in the theater dimmed, the movie officially began.
Listening to the occasional gasps from the other audience members, Amamiya Natsuki and his group remained completely calm.
Having players watch a horror movie truly didn't evoke any fear.
Amamiya Natsuki was about to reach for popcorn when he suddenly felt his fingers being quietly grasped, then intertwining into a ten-finger clasp.
"Eh heh~"
Kitagawa Marin blinked, whispering in his ear: "The movie is so scary. As my boyfriend, you have to hold my hand tightly."
That's enough!
Someone who's scared wouldn't be smiling so happily; you clearly just want to secretly hold hands!
"Just holding hands is enough?"
Amamiya Natsuki's gaze shifted downwards, landing on the succubus girl's legs.
As a school gyaru, Marin always liked to shorten her skirts. Now that she was sitting, a glimpse of alluring, absolute white territory was clearly visible.
"You can't touch my leg!"
Kitagawa Marin's pretty face flushed, recalling what happened on the plane. She quickly used her other hand to cover her skirt, shaking her head in refusal.
What if she accidentally made a strange sound and everyone heard it, wouldn't that expose them?
Holding hands was already satisfying; touching her thigh was absolutely out of the question.
Amamiya Natsuki didn't insist, and in the darkness, he played with the succubus girl's fingers. Although the texture wasn't as comfortable as her thigh, he received good interactive feedback, so it wasn't a loss at all.
"This is a loss, I should have known not to watch a horror movie," Fujiwara Chika complained, "It's not scary at all."
Amamiya Natsuki picked up a piece of popcorn and popped it into his mouth: "Horror movies are for ordinary people, not us."
Fujiwara Chika was about to speak when she suddenly noticed a detail—
Strange, Natsuki's popcorn was clearly on his right, so why was he eating it with his left hand?
It was awkward to take the long way around, wasn't it?
Detective Chika-sama officially went online.
"Oh dear, I dropped my popcorn."
Bending down to pick up the popcorn, Fujiwara Chika secretly turned her head and quickly saw the small movements in the dark.
"How dare you, secretly holding hands behind my back!"
Fujiwara Chika couldn't help but puff out her pink cheeks, then made a decision.
"I want to too!"
Although they hadn't agreed to date, just holding hands was perfectly fine!
Amamiya Natsuki was about to reach for popcorn when he suddenly felt his left hand being grabbed.
"Hmm?"
Amamiya Natsuki turned to look at secretary Chika.
"You and Marin-chan are holding hands, aren't you?" Fujiwara Chika lowered her voice, her pink cheeks slightly puffed out, "I want to hold hands too."
Who said idiots don't get jealous?
When she got jealous, she was no less intense than anyone else.
Amamiya Natsuki, with Marin on his right hand and Chika on his left, comfortably watched the movie, but unfortunately, he couldn't eat the popcorn and cola.
By the time the movie ended, it was already noon.
The group went to an all-you-can-eat barbecue, then spent the afternoon strolling around the shopping center, buying swimsuits, accessories, taking sticker photos together... these were all trivial shopping matters, no need for further detail.
They played until evening, then everyone said their goodbyes and parted ways.
"Kouhai-kun, are you going to the hospital?"
Koyasu Tsubame looked up and asked softly.
"Let's go together," Amamiya Natsuki nodded, "Kaguya, you and Miko go home first. Don't forget to walk the dog."
Shinomiya Kaguya nodded gently: "Got it."
Arriving at the train station, Amamiya Natsuki and Senpai boarded the train, heading to the hospital together.
However, Amamiya Natsuki quickly noticed that Koyasu Tsubame's reactions today were clearly a bit off. She kept staring blankly out the window on the way, much quieter than usual.
"Senpai, are you feeling unwell?" Amamiya Natsuki asked softly.
"I... I'm fine."
Koyasu Tsubame pursed her pink lips and shook her head gently.
That lonely and hesitant expression clearly meant something was wrong!
Amamiya Natsuki pondered:
"Senpai didn't say much during lunch... so it has something to do with watching the movie?"
After a pause, Amamiya Natsuki quickly guessed the truth: "Senpai was sitting next to Chika then, and saw Chika and me holding hands?"
"..."
Koyasu Tsubame bit her lip lightly with her pearly teeth, not denying it.
She had indeed seen it, which was why she was unhappy.
He had clearly confessed to her at the hospital entrance that day, but then he was holding hands with another girl while watching a movie... The Paste skill only takes five minutes, but you two didn't let go for most of the movie, did you!
Cheating!
And he was cheating with her good friend right in front of her, it was too much!
Amamiya Natsuki said in a low voice:
"Senpai, do you remember that after the movie, my popcorn and cola were barely touched?"
"...What do you mean?"
Koyasu Tsubame looked up in confusion.
You've already admitted to holding hands with Chika, shouldn't you be explaining yourself at a time like this?
What does it have to do with popcorn and cola?
Amamiya Natsuki continued:
"That's because I don't have time to eat… Senpai, guess what my other hand is doing?"
"Eh?" Koyasu Tsubame's eyes widened quickly, and she said in disbelief, "You, you and Marin-chan are…"
Koyasu Tsubame only felt the world spinning, and a wave of grievance surged within her, filling her beautiful pink eyes with misty tears.
So it wasn't just Chika, but Marin-chan too. Yet… yet he confessed to me just two days ago…
Could it be that because I didn't agree immediately, he went to find someone else?
This is too much!
As they spoke, the train arrived at the Hospital.
Amamiya Natsuki took the Senpai's soft hand and pulled her off the train.
"Let go of me." Koyasu Tsubame bit her lower lip, trying to pull her right hand free.
"No." Amamiya Natsuki squeezed her hand tightly. "Last time at the Hospital entrance, Senpai ran too fast, and I didn't get to say some things. This time, I'll hold on tight until you hear me out."
"…You say it."
Koyasu Tsubame stopped struggling, waiting for him to continue.
"Last week, when I went to Hokkaido…"
Amamiya Natsuki's expression was calm as he softly recounted his journey of emotional transformation in Hokkaido, then said:
"I like Senpai. If tomorrow were the end of the world, I would deeply regret not being with Senpai, so I must confess to Senpai."
Koyasu Tsubame's tone was complicated: "Even if you say that… what about Marin-chan and Chika-chan?"
Amamiya Natsuki said frankly: "I like all of them. I want to date all of them."
"Eh? Eh? Eh?"
Koyasu Tsubame's eyes widened in disbelief.
He actually said he liked all of them! How could such a shameless person exist in this world!
"Shameless!" Koyasu Tsubame couldn't help but exclaim, "How could anyone agree to something like that?!"
Amamiya Natsuki coughed twice: "…Someone already agreed."
"Eh, who?" Koyasu Tsubame's eyes widened, and she quickly realized, "Is it Marin-chan and Chika-chan?"
Koyasu Tsubame felt her head spin.
That's right.
If I could notice Natsuki-kun secretly holding hands at the movie theater, how could Marin-chan and Chika, sitting on either side of Natsuki-kun, not notice each other's unusual behavior?
So… Marin and Chika really agreed to date him together?
What should I do?
Tsubame felt her mind in a chaotic mess and instinctively wanted to escape: "I, I want to go home and calm down…"
"Let me finish what I have to say first." Amamiya Natsuki held onto the Senpai's hand firmly, his tone serious, "Regarding dating together, I won't force Senpai; I will respect Senpai's will. There's only one thing that's non-negotiable."
"What?"
"Senpai is my person. Don't even think about leaving my side."
"Natsuki-kun is too overbearing." Koyasu Tsubame's pretty face flushed, and she couldn't help but glare at him, "You just said you wouldn't force me. You're not keeping your word."
Amamiya Natsuki said earnestly:
"What I meant was that I guarantee I won't force Senpai. I'll just do a dogeza every day until Senpai agrees to date me together."
Koyasu Tsubame: "…Shameless!!!"
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr