"Mana replenishment..." Kaguya's brows furrowed slightly. "I heard you mention it in the game before. It means replenishing magical power?"
"...More or less."
Chika's gaze drifted evasively.
"Then let's begin." Kaguya crossed her arms over her chest and looked at Natsuki. "Replenish her mana as soon as possible."
When one cares deeply, one loses composure.
Facing her ghost mother, Kaguya simply couldn't remain cold and indifferent.
"Sorry, can't do it. Don't look at me."
Natsuki decisively refused three times in a row.
Replenishing Lady Kaguya's mana in front of the ice-sculpture young lady—wouldn't that get him killed?
It definitely would!
Having your own mother taken advantage of right in front of you—who could endure such humiliation?!
"Since Chika-san was the one who brought up mana replenishment, of course Chika should do it." Natsuki quickly passed the buck. "I don't know how."
"I don't know how either." Chika hurriedly said. "Only boys can help with mana replenishment."
That's just because your knowledge is too narrow. Girls replenishing mana through skinship is quite common, you know!
"You're hiding something from me." Kaguya's brows furrowed. Not understanding what they meant made her quite unhappy. "What exactly does mana replenishment mean?"
Natsuki silently walked to the window. "You two chat. I'll admire the scenery by the window."
"That's a domain good children shouldn't touch. Kaguya-chan, please don't ask anymore." Chika had no choice—she'd caused this trouble herself, so she had to solve it. "...Let's open mystery boxes first. Maybe there's something that can replenish Atake-nee's energy."
"Atake-nee?"
Kaguya tilted her head to look over.
"Ehehe~" Chika raised her right hand beside her face in a peace sign, smiling even more radiantly than sunshine. "From now on, Kaguya-chan can call her 'Mom,' and I'll call her 'Atake-nee.' We'll each address her our own way."
"That's right." Lady Kaguya also flashed a peace sign, her smile radiant. "Little Chika is super cute. I'm definitely claiming her as my little sister."
Kaguya Shinomiya: "..."
Who wants to "each address her our own way"? Just call her "Auntie" like you're supposed to!
"Natsuki, come here, come here." Chika turned her head, her voice bright. "Mystery box time."
"Coming."
"..."
Moments later.
All three were wiped out.
"I watched the horoscope show before leaving this morning. It said my luck would be bad today—guess it was right." Chika complained. "What use is a wool trimmer anyway?"
[Item: Wool Trimmer]
[Description: Don't bother looking for hidden features. This is just an ordinary wool trimmer with no secret functions.]
[Note: For trimming wool only. Please do not use to trim strange types of hair.]
Natsuki wordlessly looked away.
That note didn't seem proper no matter how you read it.
His mystery box today had nothing good either. Though actually, this was normal. Chika pulling a golden legendary item right away just meant she was one of those rare, lucky girls blessed by fortune.
"What do we do now?"
Kaguya's willow brows furrowed slightly as her gaze fell on Lady Kaguya. "Should we try that mana replenishment thing you mentioned after all?"
"Don't even say it. Impossible."
Natsuki firmly refused.
You're pushing someone toward death here!
Actually replenishing mana for your mother—I'd definitely get killed!
"Mana replenishment is just speculation anyway. No one knows if it would even work." Natsuki said seriously. "Let's think of other solutions."
"Little Kaguya is worried about Mommy?" Lady Kaguya smiled over at her. "Mommy is so happy."
Kaguya moved her pink lips slightly and turned to look elsewhere.
"How about I ask some other people?" Chika raised her hand. "One head is short, two heads are long. Other players might know something about Guardian Spirits."
Natsuki looked at the butterfly-hairclip girl. "You have other people's contact information?"
"Not everyone." Chika explained. "Just a few female players I get along well with, like Rikka and Asuka."
"Some players seem to be really guarded and didn't want to exchange contact info with me."
Being guarded was normal. Making friends like you was the strange thing!
"You can't bring phones into the game. How did you exchange contact info?" Natsuki asked curiously.
"Among the items we traded, there was a blood-stained diary." Chika said as she produced a black diary. "You write down others' contact info in the diary, and after returning to the real world, you can add everyone's LINE accounts."
"I was also thinking of creating a mutual aid group for players. Everyone can help each other and share information."
Chika clenched her pink fist as she spoke:
"One person is too weak alone. Unity is strength."
So dazzling!
This was the Light of Human Hope!
Natsuki fell into thought.
The ice-sculpture young lady wanted to become an evil capitalist, exploiting and oppressing other players.
Chika Fujiwara wanted to establish a mutual aid association, making the Light of Humanity shine once more.
So what about himself?
Natsuki pondered carefully for a moment.
He seemed to miss Miss Sadako and the cow lady somewhat.
"Message sent." Chika quickly finished composing the message. "Don't worry, Kaguya-chan. Let's wait a bit."
"I'm not worried." Kaguya's tone was cool and composed.
Chika leaned forward, eyes wide. "Kaguya-chan is being dishonest about her feelings."
"I'm not."
"S-So mean." Lady Kaguya covered her cheeks with both hands. "Little Kaguya isn't worried about Mommy at all."
Kaguya Shinomiya: "..."
With two mischief-makers together, even the ice-sculpture young lady couldn't hold her ground.
"Oh right, Natsuki, tell me the details about earthbound spirits." Chika quickly sat across from Natsuki. With a notebook in one hand and a pen in the other, she transformed into Secretary mode. "I need to record this so I can tell Rikka-chan later."
"I was chatting with Rikka-chan yesterday. She attends the high school next door and is a first-year like us. Her home address is..."
In just one short day, she already knew someone else's home address. The social butterfly title was truly well-deserved.
Natsuki nodded and told Chika everything he knew about the situation.
Sharing information maximized benefits for everyone. Being overly protective of knowledge and working in isolation were both foolish behaviors.
Natsuki suddenly found himself looking forward to Chika establishing a player mutual aid association.
Moments later.
"Someone knows about Guardian Spirits." Chika held up her phone. "And it's Asuka-chan."
Hearing this, Kaguya's eyes lit up as she walked over behind Chika.
"Asuka says she once overheard other players mention that when a Guardian Spirit becomes weak, they'll fall into a deep sleep." Chika held up the phone. "Emotions are power. When the master's emotions run high—like when they're happy—they emit energy that can replenish the Guardian Spirit's strength... It sounds like wireless charging."
"I see."
Kaguya nodded slightly, feeling relieved.
"Natsuki." Chika leaned forward, eyes wide as she looked at him. "Are you happy?"
"No." Natsuki sat on the sofa and quipped, "Getting inexplicably dragged into a horror game—I can't be happy at all."
"So we need to make Natsuki happy first?" Chika propped her chin on her right hand, thinking seriously.
"Don't bother." Natsuki looked at his phone. "My life has no joy whatsoever."
"Um..." Lady Kaguya raised her hand. "Natsuki-kun was very happy yesterday evening. I clearly felt something strange entering my body at that time."
Natsuki: "..."