Chapter 79: Date with your mother?

"My feet are so sore," Miko sighed as she stepped off Amamiya's back, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead. "I'm exhausted."

Amamiya sat up, puzzled. 

"It's not much different from walking. Why are you so tired?"

"It's much harder than walking," Miko countered, raising her right hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear with graceful fingers. "I have to keep my balance the whole time to avoid falling, and I'm constantly worried about stepping too hard and hurting you. Meanwhile, you're just lying there, not cooperating, and even playing with your phone..." 

Suddenly, Miko bit her lower lip, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. She grabbed her schoolbag and hurried toward the door. 

"I'm going home."

Amamiya quickly put on his clothes and followed her downstairs.

Shimizu was lounging elegantly on the sofa, her posture relaxed as she played with her phone, eyes gleaming with amusement. Compared to the morning, her once-faint and ghostly form now appeared noticeably more solid.

Hearing the footsteps on the stairs, Shimizu lifted her face, smiling warmly. 

"Thank you for your hard work, Miko-chan."

Indeed, Miko had worked quite hard—thanks to her, Amamiya could laze about on his phone without a care in the world!

"I didn't do much," Miko replied softly, turning her face away in embarrassment. She said a quick goodbye, then left. 

"I'm heading home."

With their houses being next door, there was no need to walk her out.

As Miko stepped outside, she bumped into her younger brother, Kyousuke, still in his elementary school uniform.

"Hey, sis," Kyousuke said, his expression as deadpan as Miko's own. "Are you and Amamiya-nii officially dating now?"

"Don't be ridiculous!" Miko denied quickly. "We were just studying together. I've got exams coming up. We're not dating."

It was far too embarrassing to admit she'd been stepping on a boy's back, after all.

The elementary schooler looked her up and down with skepticism. 

"Sis, I'm not a little kid anymore. Don't lie to me."

"I'm not lying!" Miko's voice wavered, eyes darting away.

Kyousuke sighed, shaking his head like an old man worn down by the world. 

"Then explain this: if you were just studying, why did your stockings disappear?"

...

Miko glanced down, suddenly realizing she'd forgotten to put back on the stockings she had removed earlier. A deep blush colored her cheeks. 

'Ugh, lack of sleep really messes with your memory!'

"Anyway, it's not what you think!" Miko declared, placing her hand firmly on her hip, trying to assert her authority as an older sister. 

"Now get home and do your homework!"

---

Meanwhile, inside the house...

Amamiya held a dog leash in one hand and a collar in the other, turning toward Shimizu. 

"Stop messing with your phone. Come on, let's walk the dog. I'll get you a phone card afterward."

"Thanks, Amamiya-kun," Shimizu beamed, her eyes sparkling with warmth as an incredibly sweet smile spread across her face.

Amamiya's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't deny it—Shimizu was stunning. She was, in fact, even more beautiful than the icy Kaguya.

Too bad she's a ghost, he thought wryly.

With a dog leash in his left hand and Shimizu by his side, Amamiya headed out. First, they went to the park for a long walk, and as the sun began to set, they stopped by a convenience store to get her a phone card. Afterward, they had dinner outside, and by the time they returned home with fruit drinks, it was already eight in the evening.

---

At the same time...

Kaguya sat on her bed, freshly showered and dressed in her pajamas. Her new smartphone lay beside her, occasionally drawing her eyes toward it.

Why hasn't he messaged me yet?

It had been nearly five hours since school ended at 3:30, almost an entire day if rounded up, and still, no message from him. What on earth was he doing?

"The tenth rule of the 'Loyal Dog Boyfriend Training Manual' is to give before you expect to receive," Hayasaka remarked from a chair nearby, her arms folded. "You could always message Natsuki-san first."

"How could I possibly message him first?" Kaguya exclaimed, her voice rising in indignation. "That would be like waving a white flag and admitting defeat!"

Sending the first message would feel like surrendering, as though she were confessing she couldn't take the silence any longer. No, she couldn't afford to lose face like that!

'Buzz.'

Her phone suddenly vibrated.

Kaguya's eyes lit up ever so slightly. She casually set her book aside, trying to seem indifferent, but quickly reached for her phone. A new unread message appeared.

With a mix of anticipation and nervous excitement, she opened the message.

It was from Amamiya.

"Sorry, I just got back."

'Just got back?'

Kaguya frowned. Amamiya was known to be part of the Homecoming Club—someone who went straight home after school. According to Hayasaka's investigations, he didn't have a part-time job either. So what had he been doing?

As if reading her mind, Amamiya sent a second message to clarify:

"I was out shopping with your mother."

Kaguya: "???"

'What does that even mean? Shopping with my mother? That sounds so strange!'

Looking at the usually composed Ice Princess now pouting in confusion, Hayasaka, standing nearby, could barely resist the urge to pull out her phone and snap a picture.

'So cute!'

It was the first time Hayasaka had ever seen her lady with such an adorably puffed-up expression. She knew it would be a missed opportunity not to capture this rare sight for a lifetime keepsake!

But the thought lingered—what made this boy so special that he could evoke such a reaction from her? Just having good looks and high grades wouldn't normally be enough to catch the young lady's attention.

Hayasaka mused silently, recalling recent oddities: Kaguya's unexplained dark circles under her eyes, her sudden lack of appetite, and even changing cars yesterday on the way to school... What had gotten into her?

Seeing that Kaguya hadn't replied after reading the message, Amamiya sent another one:

"Here's your mother's phone number. She's not a stranger, so just add her. You can chat anytime."

The message included a phone number: #249743

Kaguya extended one slender, alabaster finger and hesitantly tapped the screen. It was her first time using a smartphone, and her clumsiness revealed an innocent, almost endearing side to her.

"…Got it."

After finally sending her response, Kaguya turned to the blonde girl standing by her bed and spoke nonchalantly: 

"Hayasaka, you may leave. I'm going to sleep."

Of course, sleep was just an excuse—she simply didn't want to sit there awkwardly while Hayasaka observed her messaging!

"Ah, finally! I can take a bath," Hayasaka stretched and headed towards the door. 

"Goodnight, miss. See you tomorrow."

---

Meanwhile, Amamiya was busy giving instructions to Shimizu. 

"All set! You've got her contact now. You can chat with Shinomiya-san anytime."

After seeing that Kaguya had accepted the friend request, Amamiya stood up and headed to the bathroom. 

"I'm off to take a shower."

---

When he came out, freshly showered, Shimizu was waving to him from the sofa. 

"Amamiya-kun, come here quickly! I think your phone's broken!"

"Hmm?" Amamiya raised an eyebrow and walked over to her side. 

"Is the screen black? Not turning on?"

"No," Shimizu replied, holding up her phone. "I was on a video call with Kaguya-chan, but I couldn't see her on the screen!"

Curious, Amamiya glanced at the phone. His eyes widened as the clear image of Kaguya appeared on the screen—a bare-faced beauty, her long hair flowing gently over her shoulders.

As a novice with smartphones, Kaguya seemed confused herself, fiddling with the settings, thinking the issue lay with the phone.

Amamiya's gaze unconsciously drifted downward.

Her slender neck led to a delicate, snow-white collarbone, and below that, her pajamas hung slightly open at the collar. The silk moon-white fabric lightly draped her form, revealing just enough to make him instinctively look away.

'So fierce… No, so peaceful.'

Wearing nothing but her moon-white silk pajamas, Kaguya, the cold and untouchable "Ice Princess," unknowingly exuded a blend of cruel elegance and subtle vulnerability that took Amamiya completely by surprise.