Shinomiya Kaguya gently shook her head.
They had won the game, but the mission progress hadn't increased. Clearly, it didn't count as "fair competition" between them.
"I can't believe it really doesn't work." Fujiwara Chika looked deeply disappointed. She gazed at Amamiya Natsuki pitifully. "Natsuki, what do we do now?"
Amamiya Natsuki pondered for a few seconds, then looked toward an Elementary School Student nearby.
"Kaguya-classmate, please get ready. Your reputation is about to spread among the Elementary School Students..."
Chapter 36: Defeat the Great Demon King Kaguya
"Um... are the Elementary School Students really going to be okay?"
Fujiwara Chika looked uncertain and spoke quietly. "Even Asuka-chan is afraid of Kaguya-chan. The Elementary School Students will be even more scared, right?"
"That's a good point." Amamiya Natsuki pondered. "It'd be better if Kaguya-classmate didn't have such a fierce look in her eyes."
Shinomiya Kaguya folded her arms across her chest, her expression blank. "I'm sorry my eyes look so fierce."
"Recognizing your mistake and correcting it is the best thing you can do."
"Stare—"
"Kaguya-classmate, please don't look at me as if to say, 'Your life ends here.' I'm calling the police."
"Don't worry. I'll erase all the evidence. Even if the police come, they won't be able to do anything."
"..."
"Um, I might have an idea."
A timid voice sounded beside the three of them.
Amamiya Natsuki turned toward it and saw the short-haired girl who'd been their test subject earlier. He asked in surprise, "Kashiwagi-san, you haven't left yet?"
"Kaguya-classmate hasn't told me I can leave." Kashiwagi Asuka answered in a small, aggrieved voice.
You need Kaguya's permission even to leave? Just how afraid of Shinomiya Kaguya are you?!
Shinomiya Kaguya's voice was cool. "Kashiwagi-san, you may leave now."
"Wait a minute." Fujiwara Chika waved to stop her, then looked at the short-haired girl expectantly. "Asuka-chan, did you say you had a way to make the Elementary School Students less afraid of Kaguya-chan?"
Kashiwagi Asuka nodded timidly and spoke softly.
"Kaguya-classmate's eyes are a little... cold. She could wear a pair of non-prescription glasses. They'd hide her gaze quite well and keep her from making other people feel too pressured."
"And her hairstyle could be changed, too. Long, straight black hair gives people a quiet, cool impression. A cute hairstyle would be much better, like buns or a high ponytail."
"It'd be even better if she changed her uniform for a white dress." The short-haired girl seemed to have found her area of expertise. The more she spoke, the more confident she became, and her voice gradually grew louder. "Kaguya-classmate is already super pretty. If she wore something cute, the Elementary School Students definitely wouldn't be afraid of her... Even Elementary School Students must like sweet, cute older girls!"
"Asuka-chan is amazing! No wonder your mother's an internationally renowned designer!"
Fujiwara Chika raised her right hand, her eyes shining.
Smack.
The two girls high-fived in celebration.
Amamiya Natsuki nodded. "Kashiwagi-san really is impressive."
Being praised by Fujiwara Chika was one thing, but when she heard a boy compliment her, the short-haired girl's face quickly turned red. "No, it's mostly because Kaguya-classmate is so adorable already."
"Then that's settled." Fujiwara Chika was a woman of action. She turned and said, "Kaguya-chan, get up. We're going to the mall."
Shinomiya Kaguya pressed her fingers to her brow. "I refuse..."
Unfortunately, before she could finish, Fujiwara Chika grabbed her arm. "Let's go!"
"The mall's right next door downstairs. You girls go ahead," Amamiya Natsuki called after them. "I'll go recruit an Elementary School Student first."
"Natsuki-classmate, what you said sounded very dangerous." Fujiwara Chika quickly reminded him. "Be careful someone doesn't hear you."
"..."
After watching the three girls leave, Amamiya Natsuki first found an employee at the Game center and bought a box of snacks. Then he carried it over to the Elementary School Student playing a game.
If he wanted an Elementary School Student to agree to a match, there were only two options: threats or bribes.
Threats were out of the question, so that left bribery.
"My Scummy Little Sister is always picking on me at home. She steals my Snacks and takes my manga. She even stomps on my stomach with her foot and tramples on my dignity. She's been getting worse these past few days. I've had enough—I have to rise up against her."
Amamiya Natsuki spoke earnestly. "Please play Street Fighter with her later. This box of Meiji Mushroom Chocolate is your reward. If you beat her, I'll give you two more boxes of Meiji Mushroom Chocolate."
"Um... I'm only an Elementary School Student. Why are you asking me to help, big bro?"
The Elementary School Student sounded puzzled.
"Because my little sister looks down on Elementary School Students. She's always saying you're bad at games but addicted to them." Amamiya Natsuki spared no effort in stirring up resentment. "If you beat her, you'll be the only one who can put that Scummy Little Sister in her place and show her there's always someone better."
"Don't look down on us Elementary School Students!" The Elementary School Student was furious. "Big bro, I accept your request!"
Amamiya Natsuki kindly reminded him, "My Scummy Little Sister is really good at games. You'd better bring a few friends along—the more, the better. The reward stays the same. Everyone gets Meiji Mushroom Chocolate."
"Big bro, just wait! I'll go get my classmates!"
"..."
A dozen minutes later.
Shinomiya Kaguya walked into the Game center. A large pair of black-framed glasses covered nearly half her face. Her cloudlike hair, which fell to her waist, was tied up with a red ribbon in a bun. She had also changed her uniform for a white dress.
There was no denying the makeover had worked. She'd gone from an aloof beauty who seemed to keep everyone at a distance to sweet and adorable Kaguya-classmate.
But as soon as she walked in, Shinomiya Kaguya noticed a crowd of Elementary School Students glaring at her.
"It's her! That's the one!"
"She's the Scummy Little Sister!"
"She looks down on us! Today, we'll show her just what Elementary School Students can do!"
"..."
A question mark slowly appeared over Shinomiya Kaguya's head.
How had she suddenly become the enemy of all Elementary School Students?
An Elementary School Student marched forward, as though he were a Hero setting out to slay a dragon.
"Are you the Great Demon King who bullies big bro every day?"
"Hm?"
Shinomiya Kaguya pursed her lovely lips and glanced at Amamiya Natsuki.
What did he mean, the Great Demon King?
She'd only gone to change her clothes. How had she become a demon king?
"That's her, all right." Amamiya Natsuki nodded from the side. "I'm counting on you."
The Elementary School Student looked serious. "I'll defeat you today and save big bro from your clutches."
"Commendable courage." Shinomiya Kaguya nodded slightly and didn't bother correcting him. "You have my permission to challenge me."
"..."
"Natsuki-classmate, what exactly did you say?" Fujiwara Chika leaned closer, a big "I'm curious" written all over her face. "How did Kaguya-chan become the Great Demon King?"
"I'm curious, too." The short-haired girl perked up her ears, her eyes sparkling.
"It was just a bit of persuasion. Don't worry about it."
The match began.
And then... the Elementary School Student lost, his eyes brimming with tears.
"Sorry, big bro." The Elementary School Student hung his head in defeat. "I lost."
"You lost to a fearsome Great Demon King. That's only natural," Amamiya Natsuki comforted him. "Keep practicing, and you can challenge her again someday."
Meanwhile,
Shinomiya Kaguya's Hundred Man Kill mission progress increased by one.
As a Genius Girl, Shinomiya Kaguya learned everything quickly, including games. When they'd played together that morning, Amamiya Natsuki had taught her some techniques, and her competitive experience was steadily improving.
"Big bro, I'll defeat her!"
Another Elementary School Student stepped forward.
The Hundred Man Kill progress bar began to rise steadily and rapidly. At last, the mission was completed as the sun set.
Chapter 37: Outlaw Zhang San, You're Under Arrest!
"Phew..."
Shinomiya Kaguya let out a soft breath. Her exquisitely beautiful face showed a hint of fatigue.
The Hundred Man Kill really was difficult to accomplish in real life. Even though her opponents had been Elementary School Students, it had still been exhausting.
"Thanks for all your hard work."
Amamiya Natsuki handed her a bottle of green tea.
Shinomiya Kaguya took a small sip, then lifted her pretty face and looked at Amamiya Natsuki beside her with a faintly amused smile.
"Natsuki-classmate, I'm curious. Why did all those Elementary School Students keep calling me the Great Demon King? Please explain yourself properly."
"It's a long story..." Amamiya Natsuki said solemnly. "So I've decided not to tell you."
"Sit."
Shinomiya Kaguya pointed at the chair beside her with a delicate finger.
"Let's play another round." Shinomiya Kaguya screwed the cap back on her bottle and pursed her moist, cherry-red lips. "If you can beat me, I won't ask about the Great Demon King anymore."
Amamiya Natsuki was speechless.
"You're still hung up on losing this morning?"
Shinomiya Kaguya's pretty face was expressionless. "I'm not hung up on it."
"Then why do you still want to play?"
"I hate losing."
So it really was because of those five losses this morning. Just how strong was her competitive streak?!
"You must be tired after playing for so long." Amamiya Natsuki thought for a moment. "Why don't we call it a day and play again tomorrow?"
"No need." Shinomiya Kaguya folded her arms across her chest, her voice confident. "I'm in great shape right now. I've never played video games before, but I've heard that some people can stay up all night playing them. Compared with them, this little bit of fatigue is nothing."
"If you insist..." Amamiya Natsuki sat down beside Kaguya. "Don't cry when you lose."
"Impossible!"
"..."
The battle was about to begin.
Shinomiya Kaguya was brimming with confidence.
Leaving aside Fujiwara Chika, who barely counted, she had now defeated ninety-nine Elementary School Students in a row. Her real-world experience was exceptionally rich. She wasn't the same Kaguya she'd been that morning.
She had to wash away the shame of those five straight losses!
A little while later,
Fujiwara Chika came back carrying a box of Strawberry Daifuku and was soon startled. "Huh? Kaguya-chan, why are you crying?"
"I'm not." Shinomiya Kaguya bit her lower lip. "You're seeing things."
Fujiwara Chika was sure of it. "That expression just now definitely looked like you were about to cry."
"Fujiwara-classmate, don't say any more." Amamiya Natsuki stood up and took a sip of his drink. "Where's Kashiwagi-san?"
"Asuka-chan said it was getting dark." Fujiwara Chika's voice was clear. "She has to be home by six in the evening, so she went home first."
Before you continue