The second day after emerging from the dungeon dawned bright and clear.
Stepping out of the security dorm, Takakai stretched lazily under the sunlight—
Whizz—!
A milk carton came flying at him.
He caught it reflexively before spotting Maki approaching from a short distance away.
"You really slept in, huh? It's already noon."
Her tone carried a hint of displeasure as she walked up, holding a lunchbox.
Maki had arrived at school early, hoping to have breakfast with Takakai—only to find he'd slept straight through the morning. She didn't understand how he could sleep so much. All that anticipation, only to be met with no sign of him.
As for why she hadn't just gone into the dorm to wake him?
Well, there were other security guards inside.
While her status as the Shijou heiress usually deterred gossip, the thought of being seen visiting Takakai's room was too embarrassing. So she'd waited until noon to approach him.
Had Takakai known her thoughts, he'd have assured her it didn't matter—the cat was already out of the bag.
The guards had seen Maki and Chika visit him multiple times, leading to wild theories about him being some hidden elite's son slumming it while romancing noble daughters.
(That said, as employees of an elite academy, they kept their speculations strictly private. Professionalism and all.)
"After two tough battles, resting a bit longer is only natural. By the way, what's up with Kaguya? She hasn't said a word in the group chat since yesterday. Something wrong?"
Takakai took the lunchbox as he spoke.
"Who knows? If oba-sama doesn't want to talk, I won't pry. Though Fujiwara might know something—ask her if you're curious. Oh, and about your new recruit—her and her friend's transfer paperwork is already handled."
Maki's tone was flat, though Takakai easily spotted the concern in her eyes.
As for the latter part—Yotsuya Miko's transfer—getting it done by noon the next day was impressively efficient.
Though the sour note in Maki's voice made Takakai sweat a little.
"Thanks, Maki. Having you around really puts my mind at ease."
He meant it.
"Don't mention it, Harem-kun."
…Not that she appreciated the gratitude.
"Ahem, nothing happened between us. At least, not yet. Right now, we're just senpai and kouhai in the game—pure comrades-in-arms. And objectively speaking, recruiting her makes sense. Her perception skills are insane, filling a major gap in our team's scouting. Plus, our group is the only one suited to protect someone with her high-risk talent."
Takakai put on his most serious face, defending his honor.
Honestly, this time, he hadn't done anything with Miko.
At most, they'd hugged (the literal kind, not the euphemistic one). No flirting, no confessions—nothing like with Maki and Chika.
(Though he was aware of Miko's budding feelings—and yeah, he couldn't deny being attracted to the well-endowed beauty. But with Maki and Chika in the picture, he'd kept things strictly professional in Fujisaka Academy.)
"…Hmph. I don't believe you!"
Maki huffed, turning her head away—but she didn't storm off.
After all, she'd already investigated Miko last night, even contacting Kumami to confirm—no funny business.
For once, he actually behaved around a pretty girl. Hah! Must've been too busy not dying to think about it!
Her thoughts drifted back to last night's scene.
[Flashback: Last Night]
Before retrieving his belongings from home, Takakai had visited Miko.
After confirming she was holding up, he suggested transferring to Shuchi'in Academy—framing it as a tactical move, since his team was based there.
Miko had hesitated.
Shuchi'in was a prestigious elite school—daunting for someone from a normal background.
And leaving behind her only remaining friend, Yurikawa, was unthinkable.
So Takakai made a call.
Problem solved.
"Players exist beyond ordinary people. What seems impossible to others is trivial for us. Consider it compensation for risking our lives monthly. So don't stress over choices—you can have both. At least when it comes to money and influence, we have that luxury."
He'd spoken firmly, urging her to voice any concerns.
Miko had been stunned by how easily he arranged things—though the idea of being above normal people still felt unreal.
Once the transfer was settled, she grew curious about his team.
"What are your teammates like?"
"Good people. Some might seem standoffish at first, but you'll see they're all kind once you get to know them."
Takakai figured it was best for Miko to meet them without preconceptions.
"O-Okay… I'll do my best. Then, goodbye, Senpai."
As Miko yawned, Takakai prepared to leave—
But noticing her lingering unease, he turned back, pulling her into a brief, comforting hug before parting.
(Her flushed face hadn't escaped Maki's notice.)
Tch… Shirakawa with me, Nutty Putty with Fujiwara that cow, now Fujisaka with Yotsuya that other cow—what, does Kai-kun collect girls per dungeon? Some kind of curse?!
Maki fumed internally.
(Though nowadays, she could mostly brush it off.)
"Any plans for the next few days?"
Maki edged closer, stealing a glance at Takakai.
"Well, I need to teach Miko the basics of being a player, get everyone familiar with her abilities, and ensure smooth teamwork. Also, there's Chika's issue—records show she's only cleared one Dusk dungeon, while the rest of us have Midnight clearance. That's a problem."
Takakai laid out his priorities.
Maki nodded—these were valid concerns.
"Of course, spending time with you is just as important. I'm not some workaholic robot. So… would the lovely little Maki-chan grant me the honor of a date or two?"
His playful tone made Maki's cheeks flush.
"W-Why say it like that?! D-Dates… well, maybe, depending on schedules…"
True to form, she couldn't bring herself to directly agree.
"I'll look forward to it, then."
"L-Looking forward—wait, you're teasing me again, aren't you?! Knowing I can't just say yes… you idiot!"
Meanwhile, at Takakai's Under-Renovation Residence…
Ditching school in casual clothes, Kaguya stood in the backyard, scrutinizing the utterly ordinary patch of land.
According to her investigators, this was where Hayasaka had last been seen.
After shinomiya Oko capitulated, the pressure on Hayasaka had lifted—she was no longer forced to spy on Kaguya.
Yet instead of relief, Hayasaka had grown more fixated on Takakai—her curiosity and fear spiraling into wild theories about his relationship with Kaguya.
(Many of which were… unflattering.)
So she'd resumed surveillance—focusing on the backyard, which Takakai rarely visited.
When the dungeon's power struck, she'd been right here.
And now, she was gone.
"Hayasaka…"
Kaguya's face paled.
Takakai had shared his full dungeon report in their group chat.
Hayasaka hadn't appeared once.
No. Don't think that way. Maybe she didn't enter the dungeon. Maybe there's still hope—
Entering the storage shed, Kaguya headed straight for Hayasaka's hidden observation spot—cluttered with intentionally placed junk to deter discovery.
(Whether it actually worked was debatable.)
Crouching down, she spotted:
A listening device.
A dropped pen.
Scattered sheets of paper.
Hayasaka would never leave things messy like this… unless… unless she fled in a hurry…
Picking up one page, Kaguya found logs of Takakai's daily routines.
(Apparently, Hayasaka had grown too wary to observe him directly.)
Then, the second page—
"…This—"
Kaguya's expression shifted instantly.