Picking Up Kaguya

Homura lay on the rooftop, avoiding drawing attention to himself, patiently waiting for Kaguya's response.

As time passed, his phone finally vibrated.

"Minamiya-kun? Where are you?" Kaguya asked, her voice carrying a sense of anticipation.

Homura stood up, glanced around, and found no one else.

"Kaguya, are you in your room?" Homura asked while smirking.

"Yeah... why?"

"What about the others?"

"Hayasaka is the only one with me."

"Okay, open the window."

"What? Are you outside now?" Kaguya asked in surprise, quickly opening the window of her room.

However, upon looking around, she didn't spot Homura.

"Where are you?"

"Just move away from the window." Homura replied calmly and ended the call.

At this point, he could easily hear Kaguya's voice from below him.

"Huh?"

Although puzzled, Kaguya followed what Homura said, stepping back and moving away from the window.

Homura's ears twitched, hearing that Kaguya had already moved. Without further delay, he tightened the rope in his hand and swung straight into her room like 'Tarzan'!

*Thud!*

As he landed, Homura silently gazed at the two people inside with a satisfied smile on his face.

Kaguya, still dumbfounded, had yet to come to her senses.

Ai, on the other hand, had her pupils contracted and her fists clenched tightly, as if ready to punch someone before she slowly released them.

"Minamiya-sama is truly extraordinary, easily infiltrating the heavily guarded Shinomiya residence as if it were a walk in the park." Ai remarked expressionlessly.

"It's my first time doing something like this." Homura shrugged with a smile. "If there were any other way, I wouldn't resort to this."

"Because of Kaguya-sama, I'll pretend nothing happened..." Ai nodded calmly. "Could this be considered a loophole in the Shinomiya residence's security?"

"Don't worry. If anyone can get in like me, there are probably only a few in the whole world." Homura shook his head. "However, if you strengthen the defense in this area..."

He waved the rope in his hand.

"Kaguya won't be able to sneak out so easily in the future unless that old—ahem, her father changes his ways."

Upon hearing this, Ai's lips curled into a subtle, almost imperceptible smile. She was particularly pleased with Homura's impression of the 'old fart'.

*Knock! Knock! Knock!*

Someone suddenly knocked on Kaguya's room door.

Homura grabbed the rope and quickly flipped outside, hanging in the air.

Kaguya finally snapped out of it and realized what had happened.

She pressed her chest and took a deep breath to calm herself.

"Yes?"

Kaguya asked calmly toward the door.

"Kaguya-sama, may I ask if you have any plans for today?"

A woman's voice came in, likely that of a maid.

"...I plan to study today. As a member of the Shinomiya family, I can't afford to let my grades slip."

"Understood. Please take care of yourself, Kaguya-sama."

"Oh, right! I'll have Hayasaka bring my lunch to my room, so don't disturb me today!"

"Yes."

After the maid left, Homura came back through the window, giving Kaguya a thumbs-up.

"Alright, let's go quickly. If we stay too long, the people who watch the CCTVs will notice something." Homura said while looking outside the window.

Even though the Shinomiya residence was in an upper-class area with very few people walking around, it still felt a bit strange without anyone passing by for an extended time.

"What do you mean?" Kaguya asked curiously.

"Minamiya-sama likely hacked the CCTVs outside." Ai explained.

Kaguya still didn't quite understand, but she knew that this couldn't go on for too long.

"In that case, let's go quickly!" Kaguya nodded. "Hayasaka, I leave this place to you!"

"Leave it to me, Kaguya-sama." Ai nodded.

"Oh, right. I brought some food for you, Ai."

Homura took out two bento boxes from his backpack and handed them to Ai.

Ai didn't refuse, but after taking them, the warmth radiating from them caught her slightly off guard.

In her view, the fact that the two bentos were still warm meant that Homura had planned everything in advance. After getting everything ready, he must have rushed over without a moment to spare.

"Hayasaka, Minamiya-kun's cooking is really, really good, you know!" Kaguya's eyes lit up as she glanced at the two bento boxes. "I can guarantee they're much better than our family's chef!"

Upon hearing this, Ai's expression showed a sense of astonishment, almost breaking her maid persona.

'How much can this man do?!' Ai thought speechlessly.

She never knew a freak like Homura existed.

"I know that I'm always troubling you." Homura chuckled. "Since there's nothing much I can do for you, I can only repay you with this."

"I... understand... Thank you, Minamiya-sama. I appreciate it." Ai bowed her head.

"I told you not to call me with '-sama'..." Homura shook his head tiredly. "Okay, time to go. Kaguya, do you need my help?"

Looking at the rope in her hand, Kaguya smiled.

"No, I'm okay."

"Alright." Homura nodded and then turned to Ai. "We're off then. I'll bring Kaguya back this afternoon."

"Please be careful on your way." Ai said, nodding.

"Umu, let's go, Kaguya. You go first."

"Um." Kaguya nodded, climbing to the roof using the rope.

"Minamiya-sama, aren't you going to look?" Ai suddenly asked.

"Look? Look at what?" Homura raised his eyebrows in wonder.

"Inside Kaguya-sama's skirt, of course."

*Cough!*

Homura choked.

Kaguya, who had completely disappeared, suddenly reappeared and revealed half of her lower leg.

"Hayasaka! What are you talking about?!" Kaguya exclaimed, her tone embarrassed.

"Just making a joke." Ai replied calmly.

'Bruh, your tone didn't sound like a joke at all...' Homura retorted inwardly, then turned to Kaguya. "I told you to wear something easy to move in, right?"

"What can I do?" Kaguya replied with a resigned tone. "I don't have clothes like your tracksuit..."

'Only skirts? Seriously?' Homura thought, speechless. "Okay, just hurry up. You look too suspicious hanging out the window like that. If someone sees you, we're screwed."

"How about... you go up first, Minamiya-kun..." Kaguya suggested hesitantly.

Homura's right eye twitched.

"For God's sake! Don't worry, I won't look at the inside of your skirt, okay?!"

"...Saying it so firmly makes me feel uncomfortable... It feels like you're rejecting me..." Kaguya's voice turned annoyed.

"What on earth are you sulking about now?! Do you want me to look?! Just hurry up and go already!" Homura was on the verge of breaking down.

"...Why does it feel like I'm begging you to look at me?" Kaguya mumbled.

'Ahh, women...'

Homura understood that whatever he said would be wrong.

He turned to Ai and gave her a deadpan look.

With a stoic face, Ai extended her hand, making a 'please' gesture.

Seeing this, Homura's right eye twitched.

"Kaguya, if you really don't go up, I'll really look, you know..." Homura said seriously.

"..."

Kaguya didn't say anything and quickly climbed up again.

Feeling that Kaguya had climbed up, Homura also started moving.

However, as Homura grabbed the rope, he turned his head to Ai once more.

"Ai, thank you."

"Have a safe journey, Minamiya-sama."

Ai nodded, and Homura started to climb up while retrieving the rope along the way.