Kaguya-sama Wants Me to Surrender

"Good morning, Fujiwara-san."

Amamiya Natsuki nodded in response.

Fujiwara Chika, one of his classmates, Shinomiya Kaguya's bestie, and a social butterfly, had managed to become friends with almost everyone in the mere two weeks since school started.

"Ah..."

Shinomiya Kaguya trembled as if shocked by electricity, letting out a small cry like a startled rabbit. The image of the Ice Sculpture Girl shattered instantly, vanishing without a trace.

"Eh? Eh?" Fujiwara Chika's eyes widened. "Was Kaguya just scared and cried out?"

"I did not!"

Shinomiya Kaguya vehemently denied it, blushing with embarrassment.

A mistake.

A serious mistake!

Normally, she wouldn't be startled by a childish game like a pat on the back!

Amamiya Natsuki's gaze suddenly sharpened as he focused on Shinomiya Kaguya's right hand.

"Eh?" Fujiwara Chika exclaimed, her black butterfly hair accessory bouncing along with her movement. "Kaguya, the card in your hand is burning."

"How can that be..."

Shinomiya Kaguya looked down and was shocked to see the team-up card in her hand inexplicably burning. The blue flames burned quietly before quickly turning to ash.

The next moment.

A sinister, low voice echoed in Amamiya Natsuki's mind.

[Team-up successful]

[Dungeon selected: Campus Seven Mysteries]

[Please prepare, players. The game is about to begin]

"That's strange," Fujiwara Chika tilted her head, her voice filled with confusion. "A strange voice suddenly sounded in my head?"

Amamiya Natsuki's eyes twitched slightly. "...Pig teammate!"

Chapter 6: Is Bullying Vengeful Spirits Wrong?

A countdown echoed in their minds.

"Eh, I heard a strange countdown," Fujiwara Chika covered her ears, tilting her head and tapping them. "Did you guys hear it?" she asked, hopping like a little rabbit.

Unfortunately, no one paid her any attention.

This wasn't a countdown; it was a death knell!

Amamiya Natsuki silently looked at Shinomiya Kaguya, his eyes twitching slightly.

This is a rip-off!

Team-ups are mandatory, and you don't even need to confirm?

"...I'm sorry." As the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family, she bravely admitted her mistake. Only cowards run away. She bit her lower lip tightly. "I just received a notification. To improve player experience, the game has optimized the team-up method. As long as there's physical contact, a team-up can be triggered."

This wasn't optimization; it was clearly a trap for players!

"I didn't touch you guys, did I?"

Amamiya Natsuki couldn't help but ask.

It was one thing for Fujiwara Chika to become your teammate, but why was he chosen?

Did eye contact also count?

Shinomiya Kaguya continued:

"Players within three meters are automatically considered teammates..."

It was too late to share this information now!

Amamiya Natsuki closed his eyes and sighed helplessly.

Another pig teammate added to the count.

"What are you guys talking about?" Fujiwara Chika's eyes widened as she looked around. "I don't understand."

"Don't ask. You'll know soon enough."

[Countdown: Three, Two...]

Amamiya Natsuki felt a slight dizziness, and the next moment, he found himself on the school grounds, surrounded by students in unfamiliar uniforms... or rather, vengeful spirits.

Their faces were deathly pale, devoid of any blood. Their eyes were just empty black holes, and their bodies were covered in gruesome bloodstains. On the ground of the dilapidated field, blood had congealed into patches, and one could still see various messy marks scratched into the ground by fingers.

Sensing Amamiya Natsuki's gaze, a 'classmate' beside him turned to look, baring jagged, sharp fangs in a grin.

[Location: Vengeful Spirit School]

[Game: Campus Seven Mysteries]

[Clear Conditions: Complete at least three challenges, or survive until 4:44 AM]

[Current Challenge Stage: One, Two, Three Wooden Dolls. Press the button behind the Daruma doll within the time limit. Those who fail to complete it will be eliminated.]

[The game is about to begin. We wish all players a happy game.]

As the creepy announcement ended, Amamiya Natsuki felt his throat loosen, regaining his ability to speak and move.

"Eh, eh, eh?" Fujiwara Chika's incredulous voice suddenly rang out. "What, what is this?!"

A loud shout quickly drew the attention of all players and vengeful spirits.

"Keep your voice down," Shinomiya Kaguya quickly covered Bestie's mouth, then leaned close to Bestie's ear and whispered, "Last night... I'm sorry, it's all my fault."

Although Secretary Fujiwara often acted in ways incomprehensible to others, she was indeed Shinomiya Kaguya's only friend.

Having dragged her friend into such a dangerous game, Shinomiya Kaguya could no longer maintain her indifferent expression, which was usually as unshakeable as a mountain collapsing before her. Her eyes were filled with guilt and self-reproach.

"I see, this isn't Kaguya's fault," Fujiwara Chika clenched her fists, her expression serious, radiating a dazzling light. "Kaguya actually participated in such a dangerous game. As a friend, how could I stand by and do nothing... I'll protect you from now on!"

I don't want to interrupt your lesbian moment, but could you please apologize to the innocent people you dragged into this?!

Fujiwara Chika said, giving a thumbs-up. "I'm a gaming expert, I can definitely clear this easily."

Chixun Yi Si

Amamiya Natsuki smelled a strong whiff of a death flag.

In horror movies, people who said that with a bright smile were often the first to get a bento.

"Heh."

A disdainful scoff came from nearby.

"Still thinking about protecting others in a game like this? Are you a newbie?"

Besides the three of them who entered the game as a team, there were other players on the field. These people were clearly not 'newbies' and were not as shocked as Fujiwara Chika, but their faces were all grim.

"Eh, how did you know?" Fujiwara Chika looked over in surprise. "This is indeed my first time playing, please give me your guidance."

"Impossible," the woman was shocked. "A first-time newbie game wouldn't be this difficult."

Shinomiya Kaguya lowered her head in shame.

[Game Start--]

As the cold, merciless voice sounded, the giant Daruma doll standing at the exit of the field slowly moved, turning its back to everyone.

Amamiya Natsuki felt his body loosen, the invisible restraint disappearing, and he regained his ability to move.

A creepy, ominous tune began to play, and everyone on the field, from players to ghost students, started to move.

No one knew when the Daruma doll would turn around, so every player moved with extreme caution. Most of the ghost students were the same; these vengeful spirit students were mostly stiff, some even showing clear expressions of fear and helplessness.

"The distance is about two hundred meters, very far..."

Amamiya Natsuki silently estimated the distance, his gaze fixed on the Daruma doll, trying to figure out how to pass the level. "The Daruma doll is about three meters tall, the button is below its head..."

"Huh?!"

Amamiya Natsuki's gaze suddenly sharpened. In his field of vision, a line of text suddenly appeared on the Daruma doll.

Jiu Wu Ling Yi Ba Ling Jiu Ling ⑨

[La la la, I'm a happy Daruma doll. My vision cannot penetrate objects. Current turning countdown, three, two...]

Amamiya Natsuki quietly stopped in his tracks.

As the countdown ended, the giant Daruma doll, swaying left and right, suddenly turned around with unimaginable speed. A vengeful spirit student, who was half a beat too slow, was caught off guard. All they saw was a black shadow flash through the air, followed by the vengeful spirit student's head exploding. Fortunately, there was no blood splatter, only black mist surging, and they fell to the ground with a thud.

Even so, it made everyone's faces turn pale and their foreheads sweat.

A deathly silence fell over the field.

A moment later, the Daruma doll slowly turned back, and the eerie ballad began to play again.

"So, so scary," Fujiwara Chika clutched her chest, completely panicked. "Isn't the punishment for failure just being eliminated from the game?!"

You thought you could just be eliminated? Do you think this is a game of make-believe!

Amamiya Natsuki continued to watch the Daruma doll.

A dozen seconds later, the same prompt appeared again.

"Stop."

Amamiya Natsuki timed it perfectly, stopping abruptly the second before.

The next instant, the Daruma doll turned around on cue. This time, it was even more unfortunate; a player accidentally moved their arm and received the same punishment as the vengeful spirit student.

A few seconds later, the Daruma doll turned back, and the game continued.

A tall vengeful spirit student seemed to have given up and suddenly turned their head, reaching out with blood-stained hands towards Fujiwara Chika, probably trying to bring some warmth before dying.

"Snap."

Amamiya Natsuki stepped forward and grabbed the student's wrist.

"Th-thank you, Amamiya-kun..."

Fujiwara Chika's face was pale as she quickly thanked him.

The vengeful spirit student turned its head and glared furiously at Amamiya Natsuki, opening its mouth to reveal a mouth full of sharp fangs.

[Turning around countdown...]

The prompt reappeared.

Amamiya Natsuki suddenly bent down and crouched behind the vengeful spirit student in the second before turning around.

As the Daruma doll turned, two more unlucky souls were eliminated, and the athletic field fell into a deathly silence.

"Now's the time."

Amamiya Natsuki took a gentle breath, put his hands together, and looked at the vengeful spirit student's back.

"For vengeful spirit ninjutsu, Thousand Years of Death—"

Chapter 7: Kaguya's Sandwich Cookie

[Card Draw Phase]

[You drew Kakashi the Gallant Mask]

[You used Ultimate Ninjutsu: Thousand Years of Death]

[Opponent Eliminated]

It turned out that whether human or vengeful spirit, no one could be immune to damage when facing Thousand Years of Death.

The vengeful spirit ambushed by Amamiya Natsuki trembled violently. Immediately after, a black shadow flashed by, instantly blowing it up, its body turning into ashes that slowly dispersed.

"Th-thank you, Amamiya-kun."

Secretary Fujiwara let out a sigh of relief and thanked him gratefully. She couldn't move her body, but she could still speak.

Amamiya Natsuki didn't say anything, nodded slightly, and continued to stare at the Daruma doll.