Kaguya-sama Wants My Surrender!

'No guy can resist a snack made by a cute girl, right?' Hayasaka thought confidently, already envisioning her next move: hand-feeding him at the right moment.

'I've totally got him.' 

"I'll pass," Amamiya said flatly, glancing at the box and shaking his head.

One sentence, and Hayasaka's entire plan fell apart.

'He actually turned me down?'

Stunned, Hayasaka looked up in disbelief. 'This isn't normal. I'm not offering you some mystery drink that'll leave you with regrets in the morning—there's no reason for this kind of refusal!'

'Tsk! Could he be suspicious of my true identity?'

Holding the lunch box to her chest, she let her expression soften, her voice dropping to a murmur. "But...I made this as a special treat for you."

"I appreciate it, but you should take it home and enjoy it yourself," Amamiya sighed. "Daifuku brings back painful memories."

"Huh?" Hayasaka's curiosity flared. "Painful memories?"

Looking up at the night sky, Amamiya spoke wistfully as moonlight cast a silver glow. "There was once an adorable girl who sat next to me in elementary school. She had a bright smile, and she loved strawberry daifuku. Then, one day…"

"And then what?" Hayasaka asked eagerly, wondering if this story might involve an ex-girlfriend.

Amamiya looked at her. "She got cavities."

"…"

"From that day on, I vowed," Amamiya continued, feigning sincerity, "never to eat anything after brushing my teeth at night."

"…"

'That's it?!' She could hardly keep her eye from twitching. 'Who cares if you've already brushed your teeth? Just brush again afterward!'

Her cheeks puffed out as she fought the urge to stomp her foot. 'This guy is infuriating.'

"Ready for the spirit protection ritual?" Amamiya asked casually.

Hayasaka nodded. "Yes. Lately, more evil spirits seem to wander inside my house. I can't risk letting my guard down."

"Good," he replied, "but put the daifuku away and eat it when you get home." He extended his hand. "Let's start."

"Thank you, senpai," Hayasaka said, offering her hand.

Amamiya held her hand gently, noting how soft and cool her skin felt, somehow both delicate and soothing.

"Let's try the coin method again today," Hayasaka requested, setting her sights on her next goal.

"Brave of you," Amamiya replied approvingly. "Good effort on the recharging mission."

"Um... 'recharging'?" she muttered, bewildered.

He pulled out a coin and handed it to her. 

As he expected, it's a tail.

"Shall we head to the park tonight?"

"The park it is," Hayasaka replied, slipping a baseball cap from her bag onto her head. It felt safer to avoid crowded places tonight—she'd been feeling unlucky enough.

"Watch your step," Amamiya warned. "You don't want to become a gum warrior again."

Hayasaka's face tightened. "There's no way I'll make the same mistake twice."

The two walked to the park without incident. At one point, a child with a takoyaki nearly collided with her, but she managed to sidestep in time.

Once in the park, Amamiya led Hayasaka over to the bench they'd sat on the night before.

After circling through the park, they stumbled upon a young couple who appeared to be in junior high. The two students sat together on a bench—or, to be precise, the girl was perched on the boy's lap, the pair holding each other in an affectionate embrace, a hint of youthful "puppy love" filling the air.

"Ah…!" 

The girl gasped in surprise, her face flushed, upon noticing the sudden presence of two onlookers in the park. 

Amamiya offered a polite apology, "Sorry for interrupting. Please, carry on."

"Let's go quickly," Hayasaka murmured, tugging Amamiya away.

This was definitely not the time for casual conversation!

"There should be more benches here…" Hayasaka's words trailed off abruptly, her steps halting just as suddenly. 

"What's wrong?" Amamiya asked, quickly reacting. "Did you step on something?"

Hayasaka bit her lower lip and, with some reluctance, nodded. The unpleasant sensation beneath her foot made her scalp tingle in discomfort.

"That's why we shouldn't walk on the grass so casually," Amamiya commented, glancing down. "Good news and bad news— which do you want first?"

Hayasaka lowered her cap over her eyes and sighed, "The good news."

Amamiya replied with a faint smile, "It's not gum."

He paused before adding, "The bad news is…"

"That's enough." Hayasaka bit down on her teeth, already deducing the unfortunate answer. 

People who don't clean up after their pets should all be held accountable!

"Let's confirm it," Amamiya said, taking out his phone and switching on the flashlight. Kneeling down, he examined the ground closely. "Thought it was [beep—], but it's just… a rotten apple."

"What?" 

At that, Hayasaka looked down, surprised to find it was indeed a half-rotten apple. 

"Thank goodness it's just an apple."

Relieved, she took a step to the side, though she still found it mildly repulsive.

"Careful not to step on it," Amamiya cautioned her urgently.

"Wait…?" 

Hayasaka reflexively glanced down and spotted a dark shape. She tried to pivot, but her balance slipped, and in a split second, she wrapped her arms around Amamiya's neck, clinging to him like a koala.

Amamiya caught her, his hands steady on her waist, supporting her weight.

"You're… heavy," he teased.

"I'm not heavy!" she protested, bristling. "I'm only 90 pounds!"

Even a seasoned spy couldn't stay calm when her weight was questioned.

With a few steps backward, Amamiya left the lawn and set her down. "Promise me next time you'll avoid the grass in tricky situations."

Half an hour passed quickly, the effects of her "bad luck" seemingly dissipating.

"I'm heading home," she said.

Amamiya waved goodbye, turning away. Watching him walk off, Hayasaka bit her lip and stamped her foot, feeling a mix of frustration and helplessness at her misfortune. Managing bad luck left no room for careful planning.

The day's battle? Hayasaka Ai: defeated.

On the silent walk home, Amamiya received a message from Miko. 

"Amamiya, are you still awake?"

"Yes."

Miko replied, "There's a spirit in my room, staring at me from beside the bed. I'm coming over to sleep."

Amamiya replied, "Hurry over. I've already purged three times after dinner."

Miko: "Ew, that's disgusting."

Amamiya: "So, we'll be sharing the bed, right? Just feet touching."

Miko: "Absolutely not! My mom went to her room. I'll sneak over later and let you know."