Kaguya-sama Wants My Surrender!

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"The urge to eat is coming back again." 

Chika couldn't help but feel anxious. 

It was clear that one of the rules of the food restaurant was that anyone who entered the store would inevitably develop a strong desire to eat. 

However, this rule didn't affect Amamiya and Sajuna, as they were employees of the store. 

Amamiya approached the elderly manager, maintaining a calm and respectful demeanor. He gestured toward Chika and asked, "Manager, this is my companion. Could she work alongside me?" 

The store manager raised his head, glancing briefly at Chika. He seemed utterly unconcerned about her earlier attempt to dine and dash. With a dispassionate tone, he replied: 

"One waiter is enough." 

It made sense. 

The store was just a small shop. It wouldn't be practical to hire an unlimited number of staff, especially if they outnumbered the customers. 

Amamiya had anticipated this response and wasn't discouraged. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out some money and handed it to Chika. 

"Here," he said generously. "Order whatever you want. We've got plenty of money." 

With a wealthy patron at their side, there was no reason to worry about expenses. 

Taking the money, Chika glanced at the manager. Her courage grew, and she spoke confidently: 

"Manager, I'd like some salted edamame." 

Earlier, the three of them had discussed the peculiar properties of the old currency circulating in this strange world. Given its potential uses, Chika decided to spend it cautiously and avoid being wasteful. 

When it came to economical yet satisfying food, salted edamame was the obvious choice—a staple snack in izakayas and the epitome of thrift. 

The preparation was straightforward: trim the ends of the edamame, rub them with salt to remove the surface fuzz, then boil them in salted water for three to five minutes. Once cooled, they were ready to eat—simple, cheap, and delicious. 

Perfect for pairing with a bottle of sake and whiling away the time. 

The manager nodded. "Please wait a moment, miss." 

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With the immediate situation temporarily under control, Sajuna resumed her duties as a waitress, cleaning tables and attending to customers. 

Meanwhile, Chika sat in a corner of the store, snacking on salted edamame. The simple, tasty treat served as an inexpensive buffer against the store's peculiar rules. 

Feeling reassured about her safety, Chika raised her hand and called out, "I'd like to request some activity funds." 

"For what?" Amamiya asked. 

"For public relations." 

"…" 

The food restaurant didn't have any printed maps of the surrounding area, which wasn't surprising. Maps of the world, countries, or even provinces were common enough. But for a small, rundown, and unfamiliar town, a detailed map was unlikely to exist. 

However, there was a 'living map' in the store—the other customers. 

With funds secured, Chika purchased inexpensive snacks like grilled rice cakes. Armed with her sweet smile and friendly demeanor, she began networking with the other patrons. 

Thanks to her natural charm and Amamiya's steady presence by her side, Chika quickly grew more confident. After a few casual conversations, she managed to extract plenty of useful information. 

"Done!" 

Standing proudly, Chika planted one hand on her hip and handed over a hand-drawn map, her chin lifted with satisfaction. 

Drawing had always been a mandatory skill in school, and Chika excelled at it. The map she presented was detailed and clear, marking locations such as hospitals, churches, shrines, schools, residential areas, commercial streets, and more.

"The direction can't be wrong. I asked several people, and they all gave the same information," Chika whispered. "But the exact location might be a bit off." 

"That's normal," Amamiya replied with a nod. 

After all, it was a hand-drawn map—some deviations were inevitable. 

"Hm…" Sajuna leaned closer to examine the map. Her eyes lit up as she pointed to a spot. "If I remember correctly, we came from here earlier." 

"Eh? It's that far?" 

Chika's eyes widened in surprise. 

"It is a bit far," Amamiya sighed. "I ran for ten minutes while carrying the weight of two people." 

"The weight of two people?" Chika tilted her head, confused. "What do you mean?" 

"Exactly what it sounds like." 

"…" 

Sajuna's cheeks flushed slightly, and she shot Amamiya a glare. 

'Don't talk about things like that so openly! It's enough that you and I know about it.' 

"The map is great," Amamiya said, quickly changing the subject. "You should draw a few more. They don't need to be as detailed—something simpler and rougher will do." 

"Hehe, leave it to me!" Chika puffed out her chest proudly. "How many do you need?" 

Amamiya thought for a moment. "About a hundred." 

"One… one hundred?!" Chika gasped. "My hands will fall off if I draw that many maps!" 

"Why so many?" Sajuna asked, her small face tilting upward in confusion. 

Amamiya lowered his voice. "Do you think we're the only players in this town?" 

"There should be others," Chika said, tapping her forehead in thought. "The town is so big—there's no way it's just the few of us. That would be such a waste." 

Realization dawned on her. "Not only do we need to find Kaguya-chan and the others, but if we make more maps, we can help other players too!" 

With a determined look, Chika clenched her fists. "Alright, I'll keep drawing!" 

True to her nature as the self-proclaimed light of humanity, Chika never hesitated to lend a hand to others in need. 

Amamiya outlined his plan. "The more maps, the better. Once we go out, we'll post them around the town—on walls, lampposts, anywhere visible. We'll use graffiti to make them stand out and include a secret code. That way, if Kaguya or Umi come across one, they'll know where to find us." 

Sajuna blinked and muttered, "…Isn't this just putting up small advertisements?" 

"You're not wrong." 

Even in the modern world, where technology reigns supreme, handwritten advertisements can still be seen in alleyways and on walls. It's a testament to one simple truth: 

The simplest methods are often the most effective. 

As they discussed, the kitchen curtain rustled, and another customer entered the store. 

"Welcome!" 

Sajuna bowed politely, now accustomed to her role as a waitress. 

Chika, startled by the arrival, nearly dropped her pen. Her gaze snapped to the new customer—a woman wearing a bathrobe. 

The woman exuded a gentle aura, with long black hair cascading down her back like a silken waterfall. Her face was kind, her figure graceful. 

But behind the curtain of black hair lurked a sinister second face—a horrifying visage straight out of an urban legend. This was no ordinary guest; she was a ghost known for devouring victims without mercy. 

"Little brother, I've brought a guest," the bathrobe-clad woman, Miss Sakurako, said softly, her voice delicate as she covered her mouth with a small round fan. 

Amamiya smiled politely. "Miss Sakurako, welcome." 

Sajuna looked curiously at the figure entering behind Miss Sakurako. 

The curtain lifted once more, revealing a second guest. This one was a tall woman in a khaki trench coat, her expression unreadable behind a white mask. Her cold demeanor sent a chill through the room. 

There was no doubt—this was another otherworldly entity. 

"A woman in a trench coat and mask…" Sajuna's thoughts raced. "Could it be—" 

Before she could finish, the masked woman turned suddenly, her sharp gaze locking onto Sajuna. 

Their eyes met. 

An icy shiver ran down Sajuna's spine. She quickly looked away, lowering her head, but it was too late. 

The woman in the trench coat stopped directly in front of her, her voice cold and hoarse as she asked: 

"…Do I look good?"