Kaguya-sama Wants My Surrender!

"You said you'd forgive me no matter what mistakes I made," Amamiya said, gripping the neighbor lady's wrist tightly, "but now you're resorting to corporal punishment and domestic violence. You're breaking your promise." 

His voice was calm, almost disappointed, as he sighed. 

"I'm angry." 

"I feel betrayed." 

"Now I'm going to show you what rebellion looks like." 

The atmosphere thickened with tension. 

Chika couldn't hold back and snapped, "Of course, she's angry! Even 'I' feel like biting you right now!" 

She glared at him indignantly. 'How dare you talk about a mistake every brother in the world would make? Apologize to all the brothers out there immediately!'

Sajuna, standing to the side, frowned in confusion. "...You didn't actually do anything like that to your sister, did you?" 

"No," Chika cut in, quick to defend him. "Amamiya-kun is an only child. He doesn't even have a sister." 

Although she was irritated, she didn't want others to misunderstand Amamiya's actions entirely. 

"Wait, what?" Chika blinked, suddenly realizing something. Her voice rose in surprise. "You can move now?" 

Amamiya paused, thoughtfully flexing his grip. "It must be because I caught her," he deduced. Then he glanced around the room. "Check the rest of the house. See if there are other players here." 

"Got it." 

Without hesitation, Chika and Sajuna quickly moved to search the house. 

Meanwhile, the black-haired girl seated quietly nearby remained motionless. Her expression was a mix of confusion and hesitation, as though caught in a fog of doubt. 

Amamiya ignored her for the moment, focusing instead on the neighbor lady before him. 

"Madam," he began, his tone calm but accusatory, "I'm just a delivery worker. Yet you've pushed me into a situation against my will." He paused, feigning concern. "Shouldn't you provide me with some compensation?" 

The neighbor lady stayed silent. 

"You're quiet," Amamiya observed, undeterred. "Medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress..." He held out a hand theatrically. "I'd say 100,000 yen should settle the matter." 

Still, the neighbor lady said nothing. 

"Excuse me," Amamiya continued, his gaze falling deliberately on her, "but silence won't protect you. If you can't pay, I might have to accept something else as compensation." His eyes lingered meaningfully on her figure before he sighed. 

To be fair, the neighbor lady—Mrs. Hoshino—had a graceful demeanor, a striking figure, and a distinctive teardrop mole at the corner of her eye. The family portrait he'd glimpsed earlier had featured only her, suggesting she was either a single mother or someone still holding onto a painful past. Whatever her story, her beauty was undeniable. 

"No... don't..." 

A trembling, hesitant voice broke the silence, catching everyone's attention. 

Amamiya turned toward the sound. 

The speaker was the black-haired girl, one of Sajuna's classmates. She stood shakily, her whole body trembling like a frightened deer caught in the gaze of a predator. Tears glistened at the corners of her eyes as she mustered her courage. 

"Please," she pleaded softly, her voice shaking. "Please don't hurt Mommy." 

Amamiya's eyes narrowed. The girl's words confirmed what he'd suspected: the neighbor lady's ability wasn't just affecting their surroundings—it was manipulating their memories and perceptions. She wasn't just a grieving woman; she was dangerous. Without Sajuna recognizing her classmate, their memories could've been altered entirely, leaving them trapped in a fabricated familial bond. 

"Your request puts me in a tough spot," Amamiya said coolly, crossing his arms. "After all, I'm the victim here." 

The girl's hands twisted together anxiously as she stepped forward. Bowing her head, she whispered, "If it means you won't hurt my mom... I'll do anything you want." 

Her words hung in the air. 

A loving mother and a devoted daughter. 

Or rather, a manipulative mother and a desperate child. 

The neighbor lady's eyelashes fluttered almost imperceptibly at her daughter's plea. 

Amamiya caught the subtle reaction. His lips curled into a faint smile. 

"Madam," he said slowly, "you wouldn't want your daughter to suffer because of this, would you?" 

The neighbor lady remained silent, but her trembling lashes betrayed her thoughts. 

"Good," Amamiya said, taking control of the moment. He turned to the black-haired girl and gave his next command without hesitation: 

"Take off your skirt." 

The girl with long, straight black hair wore a high school uniform. Her top was a navy-blue blazer, while her lower half was clad in a blue pleated skirt paired with black tights. 

Her height was striking, estimated to be close to 1.7 meters. The black tights accentuated the straightness and length of her legs, creating a graceful and visually captivating image. 

"Huh?" 

Komi flinched, her face flushed, as she nervously covered her skirt with her hands. 

"Take it off. Quickly," Amamiya demanded, his voice calm but cold. Then, with an unflinching expression, he added, "If you don't, I'll take off 'your mother's' skirt instead." 

Only someone truly audacious—and utterly shameless—would threaten a daughter with her own mother as leverage. 

"I... I understand…" 

The black-haired girl hesitated, biting her lip in reluctant compliance. Trembling, she reached for her skirt, unfastening the button at her waist and revealing the barest sliver of her pale, snow-white midsection. 

"That's enough!" 

The neighbor lady finally snapped, her voice icy and trembling with barely restrained fury. 

Unfortunately for her, Amamiya remained unfazed. 

'What do I have to fear?' he thought coolly. 'I'm already the victim here.' 

"Madam," he said with a sly smile, "have you decided yet? I need proper compensation. Something satisfactory." 

The neighbor lady gritted her teeth, her composure barely intact. 

'Why did we ever think of him as family?' 

Her thoughts fumed as she recalled her earlier indulgence. 'Using his sister to threaten his mother? Extorting and blackmailing us? He's nothing but a rebellious delinquent!' 

Her gaze darkened as she made her decision. 

"This ungrateful bastard…" she muttered under her breath, seething. 'He'll pay for this. Once this is over, he'll be kicked out of the house and cut off entirely.' 

Closing her eyes, she exhaled sharply and said, "The bedroom. Second floor. In the bottom left of the closet, there's a box. The money is in there." 

As her words settled, footsteps echoed from elsewhere in the house. Chika and Sajuna returned, their search seemingly complete. 

"Amamiya-kun," Chika said, her voice bright and clear, "the house is empty. I couldn't find anyone else… eh?" 

Her words trailed off as her eyes caught sight of the scene in front of her. 

"What are you doing to Komi-san?!" Sajuna's suspicious voice rang out behind her. 

Amamiya turned his head, following her gaze. 

The black-haired girl stood before him, holding her now-removed school uniform skirt in her hands. Her cheeks were flushed a deep red, as if her face had caught fire. Her long, black-tights-clad legs were pressed tightly together, and their striking length and slenderness were impossible to miss. 

"Why are you taking off your skirt?" Amamiya asked, incredulous. 

Komi flinched, covering herself awkwardly with her hands. Her voice was barely a whisper as she replied, "You… you didn't tell me to stop…" 

'Are you stupid?' 

Amamiya sighed, exasperated. "Your mother already gave in. Who cares about your skirt now? Put it back on." 

"Oh!" 

Komi-san hurriedly bowed as though granted clemency from a harsh sentence. "Th-thank you! Thank you so much!" 

'You're thanking me? Seriously? How are you this dense?' 

Amamiya shook his head and turned to Chika, offering her a brief explanation of what had transpired. Then, with a nod toward the neighbor lady, he instructed, "Go get the money." 

"Uh…" Sajuna hesitated, glancing at the neighbor's wife. "Isn't this going a bit too far?" 

"It's not," Amamiya countered firmly. "Mrs. Hoshino didn't ask for anyone's permission when she tampered with our memories." 

He paused, his tone darkening. "If this were someone else, she wouldn't just be losing money. She'd probably be paying with bruises." 

Chika and Sajuna shared a glance before turning to head upstairs. After some time rummaging, they descended the stairs once more. 

"It's all here," Chika said, holding a stack of bills. She glanced apologetically at the neighbor's lady. "…I'm sorry." 

Sajuna tilted her head in confusion, looking at Amamiya. "Big Brother, why are you still holding onto her wrist?"