A soft, bouncy sensation collided with his back... Well, not really.
Setting aside the fact that Kaguya had her hands out, bracing against Natsuki's back, even if she had actually pressed against him, he wouldn't have felt anything.
Flat as a board, as they say.
"Sandwich complete!"
Chika's triumphant voice came from behind him.
What sandwich? You're clearly just using me as a human shield!
"Kaguya-chan, you can sneeze now." Chika had her arms wrapped around Kaguya from behind. "Don't worry, we'll protect you."
Kaguya opened her mouth, the urge to sneeze growing stronger and stronger. Finally unable to hold back, she pressed her forehead against Natsuki's back.
And then...
"Ah-choo~"
The tiny, careful sneeze reached his ears. Natsuki felt a strange emotion—it was somehow like a kitten trying not to wake its sleeping owner. Unexpectedly cute.
If any of their schoolmates had heard it, they would probably clutch their chests and cry out:
"I'm dying from cuteness!"
"So adorable!"
"The ice-cold Princess Kaguya's sneeze is that cute?! I can't take it—my nose is about to bleed!"
"..."
Time began flowing again.
As the Daruma Doll turned away, the players and ghost students resumed moving.
"Kaguya was so cute just now." Chika's eyes sparkled. "I want to hear it again."
Kaguya had already returned to normal—expressionless, her tone cold.
"There won't be a next time. Give up."
Hearing this, Natsuki turned to look and saw text floating above Kaguya's head:
[Ahhhhh! I made such an embarrassing sound! I really should silence the witnesses!]
Chika and I acted as your sandwich, shielding you from front and back, and you're thinking about silencing us? Are you some kind of cold-blooded witch?!
"That's so mean." Chika looked greatly disappointed. "Amamiya-kun, don't you want to hear it again?"
"Not at all."
"Boys should be honest about their desires. Being dishonest won't make you popular, you know."
The price of hearing it again is being silenced. Of course I'm choosing to be dishonest!
In any case, with the help of the mysterious hints, Natsuki led his two teammates through the Red Light, Green Light game without major incident.
"We made it through."
Chika patted her chest and let out a long breath of relief. The bouncing beneath her uniform created a strange gravitational pull, warping and attracting Natsuki's line of sight.
"Now isn't the time to relax." Kaguya raised a hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. Her pretty face was perfectly calm, showing no expression whatsoever, her tone as cool as ever. "We need to pass two more challenges before we can return to reality. Stay vigilant."
The title of "Ice Princess Kaguya" was well-deserved—as long as you didn't look at the speech bubble above her head.
[So scary so scary so scary... Hayasaka Hayasaka Hayasaka, save me save me save me!]
Natsuki turned to look behind them. The field had at some point become shrouded in gray mist. He mused aloud:
"Let's follow this path forward and see what we find."
"Amamiya-kun, thank you so much for earlier." Chika clasped her hands before her chest and thanked him earnestly. "When we get back, I'll treat you to some snacks."
Hey, hey, what happened to "I can never repay you for saving my life, so I'll offer myself to you"?
Snacks? That's way too little!
"Come to think of it, Amamiya-kun, you seemed to be able to predict exactly when the Daruma Doll would turn around?"
Chika leaned forward, drawing closer. In her clear, bright, beautiful eyes was unmistakable curiosity written in capital letters.
A sweet fragrance like orchids and musk wafted to his nose, mixed with a faint milky scent. Natsuki casually stepped back half a pace.
"Too close, Fujiwara-san."
"Ehehe~ Sorry."
Chika raised her right hand, tilted her head, and lightly tapped her forehead.
Natsuki was unimpressed. "What's 'ehehe' supposed to mean?"
Chika's smile was radiant as she repeated the exact same gesture. "It's just ehehe!"
"..."
Natsuki interlaced his fingers, considering. "Because I'm smart enough to figure out the hidden rules."
He didn't even understand why his eyes could see the strange hints. Of course he was going to keep that a secret.
Hidden rules did exist—one of the veteran players who'd since died had mentioned it earlier.
"Huh, what hidden rules?" Chika blinked, looking confused. "I didn't notice anything."
"It's probably the flag on the field."
Kaguya, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up. "Everyone's attention was on the Daruma Doll, but that flag on the field would move on its own right before the doll turned around... There was never any wind on that field."
"Shinomiya-san is quite clever." Natsuki looked at her with surprise.
Human observation wasn't as powerful as people imagined. Most of the time, people could only focus on one thing at a time. For instance, if someone watched a short video of a girl in a tank top and shorts showing off her midriff and abs while dancing, and afterward you asked what her earrings looked like, ninety-nine percent of men wouldn't be able to answer.
"Kaguya-chan is amazing!"
Chika's face was full of admiration. "I didn't notice there was a flag on the field at all."
"..."
Before long, a signpost appeared by the roadside.
"Let's take a look."
The three approached. A weathered, decrepit sign stood by the road, having clearly endured countless seasons of wind and rain. Directions were written on it in dark red, blood-like letters:
[Cafeteria]
[Exam Hall]
[Field]
[Infirmary]
[Main Building]
[Swimming Pool]
[Music Room]
"It's the Seven School Mysteries." Chika's eyes went wide, her voice dropping instinctively. "Amamiya-kun, where should we go?"
"I don't know." Natsuki shook his head.
This was just an ordinary signpost. Natsuki stared at it for a moment, but no hints appeared.
Chika looked disappointed. "It would be nice if we could ask for directions."
This is a vengeful spirit school! The entire place is filled with spirits! Is asking ghosts for directions really a good idea?!
The whole school was deathly still, cold and lonely. They couldn't even spot a single ghost student wandering about. Even if they wanted to ask for directions, there was no one to ask.
"Let me think..."
Chika pressed two fingers against her temples on either side, closed her eyes like some kind of psychic, and made vague mumbling sounds.
"Ah, I've decided!" Chika's eyes snapped open, the black bow at her temple swaying gently. Her voice was bright. "Let's go to the cafeteria."
"Your reasoning?"
Natsuki looked at her curiously. Could this Fujiwara girl have some kind of special ability like him?
Chika giggled. "Because the cafeteria is closest to us. It's straight ahead—no turns needed, just walk and we'll be there."
"..."
Natsuki's mouth twitched slightly.
Fujiwara-san, you really are a big-brain genius.
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