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"Get up, get up, Natsuki, what do you want for breakfast?"
Kitagawa Marin put her hands on her hips, her voice clear:
"I'll prepare breakfast."
Amamiya Natsuki had just woken up and said when he heard her:
"Don't you only know how to make omurice?"
"Underestimating me." Succubus Girl raised her chin. "My instant noodles are clearly delicious too."
"Forget the instant noodles, let's stick to omurice."
"I've been practicing tamagoyaki recently…"
"I choose omurice."
"Tamagoyaki…"
"Omurice."
"Stare—"
Kitagawa Marin put her hands on her hips, her pink cheeks puffed out, and leaned forward, her eyes wide as she pressed him.
Amamiya Natsuki's gaze shifted slightly downwards…
It had to be said, the pressure was indeed strong.
"Understood." Amamiya Natsuki sat up straight. "I choose tamagoyaki."
"Make one of each. Once they're done, you taste them first. If they're not good, I'll take responsibility for eating them all."
"…"
Having gotten the answer she wanted, Succubus Girl raised her chin, walked into the kitchen with a thump-thump-thump, tied on her apron, then took a hair tie and tied her fluffy golden hair into a neat ponytail. She turned her head and shouted:
"Natsuki, fold the blankets and then go wash your face and brush your teeth."
"Yes."
Amamiya Natsuki answered, folded and put away their blankets, and began to wash his face and brush his teeth.
After washing up, seeing that it wasn't raining outside, he took the dog leash and took the silly dog out for a walk.
Since successfully running for office, he had many things to do every day and came back relatively late, so dog walking time was changed to the morning.
After walking the dog and returning, it was just in time for breakfast.
"Try my newly learned tamagoyaki."
Kitagawa Marin brought over a serving of tamagoyaki, her apron still tied around her waist.
Amamiya Natsuki picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, and quickly gave a thumbs up:
"Delicious."
Succubus Girl's lips curved slightly upwards, and she sat down beside him: "I've only been practicing tamagoyaki for a short time, and there are still areas for improvement… You should tell the truth."
Amamiya Natsuki looked at Marin: "Do you really want me to tell the truth?"
"Tell me."
Kitagawa Marin raised her chin, indicating that he could speak frankly and she would not hold it against him.
"The truth is…" Amamiya Natsuki paused for a second, "It's super delicious."
Kitagawa Marin puffed out her pink cheeks: "What? I told you to tell the truth, not to praise me."
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"This is the truth."
Kitagawa Marin lifted her chin, "Then why didn't you say so just now?"
Amamiya Natsuki said sternly,
"I was worried you'd get arrogant if I gave you a perfect score right away."
"Hmph hmph." Kitagawa Marin hummed softly twice, trying hard to press her lips together to keep herself from laughing out loud, but the joy in the girl's eyes and brows couldn't be hidden at all. The corners of her pink lips couldn't help but curve upwards. "I'll believe you for now."
Amamiya Natsuki looked at Marin and said quietly, "Don't hold it in. Laugh if you want to."
The Succubus Girl finally couldn't hold back her laughter, turning her pretty face slightly, revealing her signature bright smile on her fair, delicate face.
"..."
Amamiya Natsuki retracted his gaze and silently ate his breakfast.
Girls, regardless of age, really do need to be coaxed.
"Oh, by the way, there's a very grand cosplay exhibition next week, and I want to invite Juju to participate with me." Kitagawa Marin asked while eating her omurice, "Natsuki, why don't you join us?"
"I recently found a character that really suits you; you'd definitely be super popular."
Amamiya Natsuki said upon hearing this,
"Rather than a cosplayer, I'd rather be a photographer."
Kitagawa Marin propped her chin with her right hand, "The photographer you're talking about, is he decent?"
I don't know if the photographer is decent, but you're definitely not!
"Speaking of which, yesterday on my way to my part-time job, I even ran into a talent scout." Kitagawa Marin drank her miso soup and continued, "That person wanted to invite me to be an idol and even gave me a business card, saying that if I was interested, I could go and experience it. It sounded pretty good."
Amamiya Natsuki put down his chopsticks and looked at Marin, saying,
"Being an idol is an extremely tough industry."
"I know." Kitagawa Marin nodded, "I'm just a little curious. You never know what comes first, tomorrow or an accident, so I wanted to try things I haven't experienced before."
"I just saw a piece of news on Twitter. Take a look."
Amamiya Natsuki handed over his phone.
"What news?"
Kitagawa Marin leaned in curiously and looked at the phone: "Cruel Popularity Election… A certain underground idol girl group officially announced that they will hold a popularity election, and the idol with the lowest popularity ranking will have to accept the punishment of debuting in the industry… This is too terrible!"
Kitagawa Marin said speechlessly,
"Why would they agree to such an excessive demand? Couldn't they just quit?"
"Because they can't quit." Amamiya Natsuki said, "Idols have to sign contracts with agencies. Look up the sky-high breach of contract fees."
"That's right." Kitagawa Marin blinked and said softly, "I've seen similar news before. Underground idols work hard to participate in activities, and their monthly income is only tens of thousands of yen. Later, when they wanted to quit, they were demanded tens of millions in liquidated damages… The path of an idol is really too hard."
"Do you still want to be an idol now?"
"No."
"Then hurry up and eat."
"..."
After breakfast, the two went out together, met up with Miko and Yurikawa Hana, and walked to school together.
The journey was silent.
Upon arriving at school, Amamiya Natsuki went directly to the Student Council, where he happened to encounter Koyasu Tsubame, who had just finished training in her gym uniform.
"Natsuki-kun, good morning."
Koyasu Tsubame raised her right hand and greeted him gracefully, her sweet smile charming both men and women. Not only boys, but several girls were also blushing and secretly peeking at her.
As expected of the super popular Tsubame-senpai. If she wanted to experience dating, let alone a boyfriend, dating a girlfriend would be easy.
"Senpai, good morning."
Amamiya Natsuki stopped and nodded in response.
"Is Natsuki-kun going to the Student Council?"
"Yes."
"Then it's perfect, let's go together."
Koyasu Tsubame walked briskly, coming to Amamiya Natsuki's side, her pink ponytail swaying gently, full of vitality.
"Senpai, too close." Amamiya Natsuki reminded her in a low voice, "Maintain your distance."
"Eh?"
Koyasu Tsubame froze, her pretty face quickly turning red.
She was… she was disliked!
She had just finished training, and she did have some sweat on her, but it definitely wouldn't smell, right?
To actually tell her to keep her distance, that was too much!
Even the carefree and generous Tsubame-senpai was a little flustered at this moment, forcing a smile and saying,
"I'm going to take a shower… Natsuki-kun, you go to the Student Council first."
Slap.
Amamiya Natsuki reached out his right hand and grabbed the Senpai's wrist, who was about to turn and leave.
"Senpai, don't misunderstand." Amamiya Natsuki said in a low voice, "I asked you to keep your distance because I don't want to become the public enemy of the entire school, nothing else."
"I didn't misunderstand." Koyasu Tsubame turned her pretty face away, her pearly teeth biting her pink lips, "…You let go of me, I need to go to the restroom."
She said she didn't misunderstand, but the smile on her face was gone!
Amamiya Natsuki's expression became serious: "Since Senpai doesn't believe me, then I'll have to prove myself."
"Prove?"
Slap.
Amamiya Natsuki reached out his other hand and pressed it against the wall behind the Senpai, making Koyasu Tsubame's heart skip a beat.
(She… she was kabedon'd!)
Although she had a wide circle of friends and was well-traveled, this was her first time being wall-slammed by a boy. Seeing Amamiya Natsuki getting closer and closer, her heart rate involuntarily sped up, and the temperature on her face also rapidly rose.
(What about the promised proof?)
(He's clearly just bullying me!)
Seeing Amamiya Natsuki getting closer and closer, almost kissing her forehead, Tsubame-senpai finally couldn't hold on, nervously turned her head away, and said in a low voice with a red face,
"That's enough, I believe you!"
"Senpai, don't force yourself."
"Not at all!"
Koyasu Tsubame propped her hands on Amamiya Natsuki's chest. At this moment, she was no longer bright and generous, but had much more girlish shyness, "Hurry up and get up, be careful someone sees us."
It was true that she had misunderstood; he wasn't disgusted by her sweat… Just now, it was almost, almost a kiss on the forehead!
Amamiya Natsuki took the opportunity to stand up, his tone regretful: "I would have preferred Senpai to remain stubborn to the end, unyielding."
Koyasu Tsubame covered her chest with her right hand and, hearing this, gave him a glare: "If you have the guts, say that in front of Kaguya-san."
"Let's go." Amamiya Natsuki really didn't dare to say it, "To the Student Council."
"..."
Upon reaching the Student Council, everyone gradually arrived.
"Natsuki-kun, Marin told me that you can really memorize things at a glance, right?"
Fujiwara Chika clasped her hands in front of her chest, looking over expectantly.
"Indeed."
Amamiya Natsuki nodded and described the details of last night's experiment.
"I'm going into seclusion to cultivate. From now on, I'm determined to be the top student in my grade." Fujiwara Chika clenched her pink fists and lifted her chin, saying, "From now on, I'll be first, Kaguya-chan second, and Natsuki-kun third."
"Why am I third?" Amamiya Natsuki protested, "I was clearly first in the midterm exams, and Kaguya-san was only second."
"Natsuki-kun might have forgotten." Shinomiya Kaguya crossed her hands over her lower abdomen, her posture quite elegant and ladylike, "I was first in the entrance exam."
"Don't argue." Mrs. Shimizu, fearing chaos, smiled from the side and said, "How about this: during the final exams, the three of you compete, and the loser has to serve the first-place person as a servant for three days, during which no requests can be refused, okay, Chika?"
"I agree." Fujiwara Chika put her right hand on her hip, "As long as I can memorize things at a glance, I can definitely get a perfect score on the exam. I'm determined to be first."
Hey, hey, you're too overconfident!
Subjects like Japanese and history are one thing, but to get a perfect score in math, you need more comprehension skills; rote memorization won't work!
"I agree too." Amamiya Natsuki said sternly, "Since I can be the top student in the grade once, I can naturally be the top student in the grade a second time."
Shinomiya Kaguya pursed her pink lips, quite calmly: "I refuse."
Being unable to refuse any request is like "the final interpretation rights belong to the event organizer," which is simply a rogue clause.
Mrs. Shimizu smiled.
"Is Kaguya-chan scared?"
Shinomiya Kaguya's pretty face hardened as she looked at her mother: "What am I scared of?"
"Of course, you're scared of losing to Natsuki-kun again." Mrs. Shimizu smiled and extended a finger, "On the path to invincibility, once you lose the first time, you'll often lose afterward."
"Boring taunt."
The Sheltered Ojou-sama saw through her mother's true nature at a glance; she was clearly just fanning the flames.
"Natsuki-kun, what do you say?"
Mrs. Shimizu's gaze shifted as she looked towards Amamiya Natsuki.
Amamiya Natsuki pretended to ponder:
"Since Kaguya-san isn't participating, then it'll be Chika and I vying for first place."
The strongest opponent for first place is clearly me; even if Fujiwara can memorize things at a glance, she won't be able to get first place!
"I'll participate then." The Sheltered Ojou-sama bit her lip, successfully provoked, "First place will definitely be mine."
"..."
In contrast, Tsubame-senpai was much more rational. She wasn't interested in first place, only wanting to ensure her grades didn't drop, and preferably improve a bit—because of the numerous terrifying evil spirits in reality, Koyasu Tsubame's academic performance had significantly declined recently.
"Let's try the crystal ball for free first."
Amamiya Natsuki took out the Witch's Crystal Ball and placed it on the desk.
Several girls took turns touching the crystal ball, but unfortunately, without luck enhancement, none of them received the knowledge passed down within it.
"Marin mentioned last night that she's already found most of the ingredients for the potion recipes?"
Shinomiya Kaguya's gaze shifted as she looked towards Amamiya Natsuki.
"That's right, many recipe ingredients have corresponding items in the real world." Amamiya Natsuki nodded, "But there are still the last two ingredients that haven't been found."
"Let's try a bit harder today." Shinomiya Kaguya said softly, "If we find them, we can start trying to make it."
The Sheltered Ojou-sama was eagerly anticipating it; compared to a platform middleman, she definitely preferred a monopoly industry.
With the miscellaneous tasks handled, the few of them returned to their respective classrooms.
In a blink of an eye, school was dismissed.
Amamiya Natsuki finished handling the daily affairs of the Student Council, took out his phone, and sent a message to Koyasu Tsubame:
"Senpai, we can leave."
"Wait a moment." Koyasu Tsubame quickly replied, "Natsuki-kun, wait for me at the school gate, I'll be right there."
"..."
Amamiya Natsuki put away his phone and walked downstairs to the school gate.
Not long after, Koyasu Tsubame jogged over, "Sorry, I was just training in the activity room. Natsuki-kun, you've waited a while."
"Haven't waited long." Amamiya Natsuki said, "Should we go straight to the Hospital?"
"I'll buy some fruit to take with us." Koyasu Tsubame stepped up to follow, "If the mushroom cultivation is successful, my cousin might actually eat it."
Amamiya Natsuki said as he walked:
"It was verified last night; the mushroom can definitely be grown on Miko, it's just that we can't choose what kind of mushroom will grow."
"That…" Koyasu Tsubame lightly coughed twice, subtly saying, "Miko isn't an ordinary person, is she?"
"…"
Amamiya Natsuki was speechless.
Ordinary people couldn't see the evil spirits wandering all over the streets; Miko was actually not ordinary at all.
The two walked to the Train Station and took a train to the Hospital.
It wasn't rush hour, so the train wasn't crowded.
There was no conversation along the way.
"We've arrived at the Hospital." Koyasu Tsubame stepped off the train, pointing to the building in front of them, "My cousin is in the Hospital Ward, we can go directly."
Amamiya Natsuki squinted his eyes, scanning the patients going in and out of the Hospital entrance, finding that the number of evil spirits was even higher than usual, each one grotesque and quite terrifying.
Silently activating his Exorcism Aura, Amamiya Natsuki followed Tsubame-senpai into the building where the Hospital Ward was located.
He had originally thought it was just a normal visit, but who knew, as soon as he stepped through the main entrance of the building, a familiar eerie voice echoed in his ears:
[Dungeon triggered…]
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence: 9 Reader for hundreds of additional chapters and over a dozen stories