Kaguya-sama Wants My Surrender!

Previously, there was no clear goal. Searching blindly would have been like looking for a needle in a haystack, so waiting for an opportunity had been the better choice. 

But now, with the suspicion that the player might be Kaguya, the situation had changed. Taking the initiative to investigate was necessary. 

"I'll go with Chika," Amamiya said, looking at Sajuna. With their combined skill, there is nothing to fear. "Will you stay here and continue working?" 

"No," Sajuna quickly shook her head, biting her lip. "I'll go with you." 

Staying alone in a strange and eerie restaurant was far too dangerous. 

There was no way she wanted to stay behind! 

Amamiya nodded. "Then let's go together." 

Before departing, however, there was one matter to address. 

"Manager, I'll be stepping out for a while," Amamiya said casually. "If any customers arrive, have them line up and wait for me to return." 

The manager, despite his usual calm demeanor, couldn't hold back his retort: 

"You want them to line up? You're human. Are you really not afraid at all?" 

He wasn't wrong. 

Amamiya truly wasn't afraid. 

This was currently a seller's market, dominated entirely by their establishment. If someone wanted food, they'd simply have to queue up and wait. Examples of such behavior were commonplace in reality. 

At any renowned restaurant or for any skilled chef, reservations and waiting in line were the norm. 

How else could scarcity emphasize value? 

It was a long-standing tradition. 

The only thing Amamiya worried about was encountering violent, unintelligent beings who might attack without warning. 

But then again, creatures lacking wisdom shouldn't be able to enter the Cooking Pavilion in the first place. 

"Manager, I have something to discuss with you," Amamiya added. "What do you think about expanding the business?" 

The manager raised an eyebrow. "Expand? What do you mean?" 

"Ms. Sakurako mentioned earlier that many residents in this town are unable to leave their homes for various reasons," Amamiya explained with practiced calm. "Without good food, staying home must get incredibly boring." 

"So," he continued, "I think our shop should start a takeaway service." 

Without pausing for suspense, Amamiya quickly laid out the details and benefits of the plan. "In short, this would be a win-win arrangement. What do you think, Manager?" 

The elderly manager stopped cooking, considering the proposal seriously. The ghost town, abandoned and lifeless for so long, had never seen a delivery service before. 

"Let's give it a try," he finally agreed after a moment's thought. 

"Great. You're busy, so we'll head out now." 

Amamiya smiled, then turned to the kitchen and retrieved a woven basket. 

The manager glanced over, and without hesitation, Amamiya explained, "It's just leftover defective food from earlier. I figured it could still serve a purpose. Isn't it normal to offer customers samples?" 

The manager: "…" 

After bidding farewell to the manager, Amamiya and the two girls stepped out of the restaurant together. 

The sky had turned pitch black. 

Night had fallen. 

The ghost town appeared even more desolate and dilapidated, with not a single soul visible on the streets. 

"Wow, there are street lights?" Chika exclaimed in surprise. "I thought a small town like this would be completely dark at night." 

"It's not much better than complete darkness," Amamiya replied, glancing at a nearby streetlamp. Its faint glow barely illuminated the surroundings, but it was better than nothing. "How many maps have you drawn so far?" 

"Not many—less than twenty," Chika replied, raising her right hand limply and pouting. "My hand is so sore!" 

"Want me to massage it for you?" Amamiya offered. 

"No way, I refuse," Chika shot back immediately. 

She quickly hid her hands behind her back. 

If they had been alone, it might have been fine, but Sajuna was still here. How could she possibly let him massage her wrist? 

"Is there a convenience store in this town?" Sajuna asked, trying to change the subject. "Do you think it might have a printer?" 

"We'll only know if we check," Chika said, her eyes lighting up. But she quickly shook her head and added, "The convenience store is in the opposite direction. Let's focus on finding Kaguya-chan first. We can check the store later." 

Amamiya took out a can of graffiti spray and some glue from his game inventory—random items he had previously bartered for. 

"We'll split up the work. Start posting maps at every intersection from now on," he instructed. 

"Got it!" 

"Leave it to me." 

The two girls took up the task eagerly. Using the spray paint, they marked brightly colored arrows on the walls as clear visual cues. Then they stuck their hand-drawn maps at key points like intersections. Anyone passing by would be able to spot them without fail. 

While they were called "maps," they contained much more than simple town layouts. Along with a basic topographical sketch of the area, the maps included codes identifying players, information about the Cooking Pavilion's strange phenomena, and even contact points and communication details. 

The process of posting these makeshift "advertisements" was quick and straightforward. With no one else around, there was no need to sneak around. They moved along, posting as they walked, until only two maps were left. 

Still unsatisfied, Chika tucked away the last map, intending to see if she could replicate it later. 

With their preparations complete, the trio quickened their pace and resumed their search. 

---

Not long after, they arrived in front of a house. 

It was a modest single-family home, but it seemed long neglected. The courtyard was overrun with dead grass and fallen leaves, while ivy crept up half of the crumbling walls—though even that had withered away. The entire property exuded a sense of desolation and decay. 

"This is the place," Amamiya said, stopping in front of the house. His eyes fell on the rusted mailbox by the door, where the faint imprint of the surname "Hoshino" could still be seen. 

"Hey, there's a light on inside," Chika whispered, her voice tinged with unease. "Isn't that strange?" 

"Stay alert," Amamiya instructed. "Stick to the plan." 

"Understood." 

The three approached the door cautiously. Amamiya took a deep breath before pressing the doorbell. 

The bell rang out, low and grating in the quiet, eerie night. 

'Thud. Thud.' 

Footsteps approached from within. 

With a slow creak, the door opened just enough to reveal someone inside. 

The two girls, standing behind Amamiya, peered into the dimly lit interior with a mix of curiosity and trepidation. To their surprise, the door was answered by a woman in an apron, her demeanor warm and gentle. She looked entirely ordinary—like the kindly neighbor next door. 

Still, after encountering someone like Miss Sakurako, who had two faces, none of them dared to let their guard down. 

"Why are you so late?" the woman said in a mildly reproachful tone. "Dinner's been ready for a while now—it's getting cold." 

"Huh?" 

Amamiya froze in place, startled. 

That tone... It sounded unsettlingly familiar. 

"Hurry and wash your hands. Dinner's waiting," the woman said, turning to walk back into the house. 

Chika tugged at Amamiya's sleeve, whispering, "Why does this feel like when I come home late, and my mom's waiting for me?" 

Sajuna nodded in agreement. "Exactly! It's uncanny." 

"Let's go in," Amamiya said in a low voice. "Once inside, confirm that she's alone. If she is, we'll capture her immediately and interrogate her to find Kaguya's whereabouts." 

According to the information provided by Miss Sakurako, the woman was supposed to be living alone and without any accomplices. 

A lone, seemingly harmless neighbor lady was the perfect target to apprehend. 

"What do you mean by 'interrogate'?" Chika muttered with a grimace. "That sounds so sinister." 

Amamiya said nothing, pushing the door open further as they stepped inside.