Chapter 22: Mysterious Person, You Really Are Damned!
After the call ended, Kaguya Shinomiya lowered her phone, her elegant face thoughtful.
Yotsuya Miko's reaction had been far too strong. She had only mentioned the diary once in a neutral tone—yet the girl had panicked as if she had been cursed.
In Kaguya's tests, whenever she spoke of the diary to ordinary people, the results were harmless. Some would think she was just making casual conversation; others wouldn't even register her words. There had never been a reaction this extreme.
She didn't realize how much her naturally cold, emotionless voice had frightened a girl already living under constant paranoia.
Instead of calling again, she calmly reported the encounter in the LINE group.
The chat immediately split into factions.
Eru Chitanda and the more moderate members speculated that perhaps a spirit had been next to Yotsuya when Kaguya called, explaining her abnormal reaction.
Others—Kaguya included—believed that Yotsuya did indeed possess a diary but distrusted it, perhaps because of her Yin–Yang Eyes. That would explain her evasive, fearful behavior.
Then came troublemaker UMR, who gleefully suggested posting Yotsuya's phone number in the group so everyone could call and "test it themselves."
Kaguya couldn't help a faint smile. A little conflict wasn't bad; disagreements, when used well, often drew people closer.
When the debate cooled, she dropped her suggestion.
Kaguya: "In that case, would anyone like to meet Yotsuya Miko with me this weekend? She lives in Tokyo. It could also serve as the diary club's first offline gathering. Naturally, as the host, I'll cover the expenses."
Kaguya had no ordinary allowance. She always carried a neat 100,000 yen in her wallet, and if that wasn't enough, a single swipe of her black card could cover everything. Her elder brother might scold her afterward, but those scoldings had long since lost their sting.
Her invitation stunned the chat for a moment before Hoshino Ai revived the mood.
Ai: "An offline gathering? That sounds amazing! Karaoke, maybe? I'll check my schedule, but I'll ask everyone again."
Ai: "@All members, does anyone want to come? Kaguya-chan will cover everything. PM her to sign up!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha was the first to reply. She lived in Tokyo anyway, and curiosity about the Shinomiya heiress tugged at her.
Other members weighed in too. Some declined—Katsura Kotonoha had kendo practice, and girls like Rikka Takanashi and Chitanda Eru simply lived too far away.
In the end, two confirmed: the mischievous UMR, and Fallen Saint Black Cat, who lived close in Chiba. If Ai found time, and if Yotsuya Miko joined, that would make six attendees.
It was enough for a first meeting. Kaguya reminded them to save some reading value, in case the diary's warning system triggered. The group readily agreed.
---
Meanwhile, Renji Miyauchi flipped through today's featured comment.
Anonymous. Dull. Just a Ripple Breathing question. Useful, but uninspired.
Still, the comment proved something important: reading value accelerated training, but didn't grant mastery. Talent still set the ceiling.
For Renji, with his Pure Yang Body and daily diary rewards, that ceiling was practically infinite.
He pulled today's prize—a box of Immortal Happy Tea from Honkai: Star Rail. The sweet, interstellar milk tea lived up to its fame. It was delicious, refreshing, and—he realized with alarm—amped up his yang energy to the point that he didn't sleep a single hour.
By morning, he was still buzzing.
Which was perfect for mischief.
Carrying a folded stepladder and toolbox, he disguised himself with Yellow Temperance and strolled through Toyosaki Academy's front gate.
The security guard actually nodded at him.
"Thanks for your hard work today."
Renji nearly laughed out loud. The "ladder hack" worked.
He even debated on the way in: Which brand of toolbox looks more trustworthy? A rusty one makes me look like a lazy worker, but too shiny and I'll seem suspicious…
In the end, he chose "mildly used" and blended in perfectly.
At lunch break, he slipped Kasumigaoka Utaha's IF route manga into Eriri Spencer Sawamura's shoe locker. No one noticed. Smooth.
That evening, he wrote his diary.
---
[Today was another fine day. I thought I'd just game at home, but decided to test a "life cheat" instead.
They say: carry a ladder, and you can walk into anywhere. People will assume you're staff. I didn't believe it—so I tested it at Toyosaki Academy.
It works. I walked right past the guard. He even told me I'd worked hard!
On my way out, he offered me a cigarette. Sadly, I'm from the reformist faction, so no thanks.
Anyway, I left Eriri Sawamura a gift—the IF route manga. If she has a diary, she'll know what to do with it. If not… well, it'll be funny either way.
Next test? Shuchiin Academy. Security there should be far stricter. If I succeed, I'll even give Kaguya a camera. After all… isn't her dream to be a photographer?]
---
The chat group exploded.
He had appeared. In disguise. At Toyosaki. Leaving Utaha's manga in Eriri's locker. Even chatting with the guard.
And then—mocking Kaguya Shinomiya of all people.
---
Kaguya herself nearly dropped her phone.
A "You have gained one reading value" had already appeared in her mind. Proof that she'd been directly named.
She rushed to a quiet corner, opened her diary—
And froze.
The image at the end was absurd: her future self, calmly declaring she wanted to be a photographer, while her elder brother sat pathetically on the floor, looking up at her.
Her? A photographer? She had never even touched a camera.
Her face burned crimson. Just imagining Utaha's smirk, Ai's giggles, or Black Cat's sarcastic quips made her want to vanish.
Kaguya buried her face in her hands.
The Mysterious Person… was damned.
End of the chapter
(A/N) = 150 power stone=1 extra chapter and so on and all extra chapter will be released on Sunday