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"Senpai's taste is too heavy, isn't it?"
Hayasaka Ai raised her hand to cover her mouth, feigning shock. "You even want to push Sadako down; has Tsubame no longer satisfied you?"
"Mm-hmm..."
Koyasu Tsubame was nodding beside them. No matter what, he shouldn't have used pushing Sadako down as an example. A normal person encountering Sadako would surely hide as far away as possible, and wouldn't have such thoughts at all.
"Eh, wait a minute." Koyasu Tsubame quickly reacted, her pretty face flushing. "What does that have to do with me?"
"Of course it does," Hayasaka Ai said, crossing her arms, acting very serious. "Senpai kept trying to turn his head and peek just now, he must be coveting Tsubame's body. Tsubame is so cute, if she just beckons, Senpai will pant and pounce on her."
Koyasu Tsubame: "..."
The panting creature must be a dog!
But... if she were to tempt Natsuki, she would indeed be bullied, wouldn't she?
After all, Natsuki is not a gentleman.
Koyasu Tsubame coughed twice: "Hanamori-chan is clearly super cute too."
"Not as cute as Tsubame."
"No, you're clearly cuter..."
"You two don't need to flatter each other," Amamiya Natsuki interrupted faintly from the side. "If I had to choose, Sadako is the cutest."
Hayasaka Ai: "..."
Koyasu Tsubame: "..."
It's over.
He's been in too many dungeons. The perverted Senpai is getting more and more distorted; he's no longer satisfied with humans, he even praises vengeful spirits as cute.
"Judging people by their appearance is very unfair," Amamiya Natsuki said seriously. "I brushed Sadako's hair before, and she really is cute; I'm not flattering her at all."
"..."
Sadako's black hair, which covered her face, trembled slightly, as if she was a little shy, and she quickly lowered her head, burying her face between her knees.
Besides, you can't just judge people by their faces.
When Sadako tried to crawl through the television, she got stuck. The hidden figure beneath her hospital gown, the two of you combined wouldn't be able to match it.
"Sadako, do you want to work for me?"
Amamiya Natsuki wasted no more words, pulling out the Midnight Theater rule card. A deep, noble purple light glowed softly, extending a recruitment invitation to Sadako.
There were still many employee rooms in the Midnight Theater. Currently, there was only one loli maid, so it was natural to recruit more employees for unforeseen needs.
Since he was recruiting employees, familiar faces naturally came first.
Moreover, Sadako was not just a pretty face; the more fear others felt, the stronger she became.
Amamiya Natsuki even thought about encountering that gluttonous Hanako again. If he could form the strongest urban legend idol group, that would be even better.
Sadako raised her head, her gaze piercing through her black hair and landing on the card at Amamiya Natsuki's fingertip. She could clearly sense the special nature of the rule card, but in the end, she shook her head slightly.
This human is dangerous; she doesn't want to be pushed down by him.
"I respect Sadako's personal will." Amamiya Natsuki sighed, putting aw the card. "No matter what, I won't force you."
Actually, recruiting employees couldn't be forced; the other party had to be completely willing, even forcibly increasing their favorability wouldn't work.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have said so much; he would have just abducted Sadako and then slowly trained her.
"However, since we're acquaintances, I can give Sadako some employee benefits first." Amamiya Natsuki changed the subject, taking out a momotaro rice ball. "Here you go."
This rice ball was the thank-you gift he had received earlier in the underground garage, perfect for employee benefits.
"..."
Sadako hesitated for a few seconds, then reached out and took the rice ball.
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"You try the taste first."
Sadako hesitated for a moment, then used her other hand to lift her black hair.
"Stare--"
Hayasaka Ai and Koyasu Tsubame both looked over, wanting to catch a glimpse of the true face beneath the black hair.
Or maybe she really was cute.
Unfortunately, Sadako only lifted her hair a little, then put the rice ball inside, much to the disappointment of the two girls.
A faint chewing sound, like a hamster, came from beneath the black hair.
Amamiya Natsuki waited quietly for a while, then said:
"Sadako, how does it taste?"
A faint voice came from beneath the black hair: "...Delicious."
"This is just the most basic employee benefit." Amamiya Natsuki smiled. "I have even more delicious Dark Cuisine here. Would Sadako like to try some?"
This Sadako should not be an ordinary vengeful spirit, but a named kaidan with an independent personality and seven emotions and six desires; she can be seen as an alternative life form.
Everything has a weakness.
Amamiya Natsuki was quite skilled at luring kaidan with delicious food.
It seemed the momotaro rice ball was quite useful; it could leave a good impression on vengeful spirits and strange kaidan, as Dark Cuisine couldn't be pulled out anytime, anywhere.
Amamiya Natsuki invited:
"Sadako, for now, please follow me. I guarantee you'll get to eat even more delicious Dark Cuisine."
"..."
The momotaro rice ball had a certain favorability bonus. Sadako did not refuse this time, nodding silently in agreement and standing up.
"How, how exaggerated!"
Hayasaka Ai and Koyasu Tsubame were only then shocked to discover that Sadako, after standing up, was surprisingly curvaceous. From the side, she even gave the feeling of "a mountain range in profile, a peak from the side, appearing different from far or near, high or low."
Indeed, one cannot judge a person by appearance, and the same goes for kaidan.
"Sadako, can you leave the ward directly?"
Amamiya Natsuki asked softly.
Sadako shook her head.
"It seems not." Amamiya Natsuki spoke while looking at Tsubame.
Koyasu Tsubame took half a step back, a bad premonition welling up in her heart: "Natsuki, why are you looking at me?"
"Tsubame, your time for sacrifice has come."
"Eh?"
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"Take off your nurse uniform and give it to Sadako to wear."
Koyasu Tsubame said speechlessly: "Then how do I get out?"
Amamiya Natsuki extended his right hand and said:
"Don't worry, I'll paste Dark Shadow to you."
Koyasu Tsubame: "..."
In the end, he still had to paste a skill. What was the point of changing clothes so painstakingly just now?
However, thinking that she hadn't found anyone and had delayed everyone's time, causing them to come rescue her, Tsubame felt guilty and finally agreed, sacrificing herself.
A few minutes later.
Amamiya Natsuki and Hayasaka Ai walked out of the ward, accompanied by a nurse whose black hair covered her face as she looked down at her toes.
This was not the Heavy Care Area, so Amamiya Natsuki and Hayasaka were not checked and safely arrived at the restroom.
"You're finally back."
Fujiwara Chika was sitting on a chair, bored and waiting. Seeing Amamiya Natsuki and the other two enter, she happily stood up and went to Miss Sadako: "Is this the role Tsubame is playing?"
Saying that, she gasped in admiration, extended her right hand, and wanted to poke her:
"Senpai's character has such big breasts."
When you meet Miss Hachishakusama, you'll know what true bigness is!
"Fujiwara, don't get close." Shinomiya Kaguya's delicate brows furrowed, and she warned, "She's not the Senpai."
The character Koyasu Tsubame descended to play was a flat-chested female patient; even with disguise, her height and body shape wouldn't change.
"Eh?"
Fujiwara Chika turned her head in confusion.
"Indeed, it's not the Senpai." Amamiya Natsuki said from the side, "But it's someone you all know."
Fujiwara Chika's eyes brightened: "Is it Marin-chan?"
"Wrong answer." Amamiya Natsuki turned to look at Hayasaka, "Let the Senpai come out first."
"Okay."
Hayasaka Ai walked up to a cubicle and let her shadow fall into it: "Senpai, you can come out now."
As soon as she finished speaking.
The shadow on the ground distorted slightly, and then a Senpai appeared out of thin air.
The moment she appeared, she covered her body with both hands and said shyly:
"Quickly, give me my clothes."
"Senpai, you worked hard." Hayasaka Ai handed over the clothes.
"Wait a moment." Fujiwara Chika stretched out her right hand, her other hand pressing her forehead, "My head is a mess… Senpai is in the cubicle, and she's not Marin-chan, so who is she?"
Amamiya Natsuki turned his head and said:
"Miss Sadako, we're all old friends, say hello to everyone."
"Eh eh eh?" Fujiwara Chika's eyes widened, astonished, "Could it be Miss Sadako from the previous instance who would get stuck in the TV?"
Amamiya Natsuki nodded and said:
"Correct answer."
"How amazing." Fujiwara Chika's eyes sparkled, "This is the first time I've met someone who can cross instances. Oh, sorry, Miss Sadako isn't a person."
"Miss Sadako, huh…"
Compared to Fujiwara Chika's surprise and excitement, Shinomiya Kaguya quietly furrowed her delicate brows.
She had heard others say that one could encounter kaidan from other instances, so… would Yandere Kaguya from the mirror world ever be encountered again one day?
Shinomiya Kaguya quickly shook her head.
No matter what, she never wanted to encounter that terrifying fellow again.
"Miss Sadako, do you know Miss Milk Cow?" Fujiwara Chika asked enthusiastically, "Did she come to this instance with you?"
"…"
Miss Sadako lowered her head, her black hair hanging down, silent, and she should get along very well with Komi, who practices silent meditation.
After a while more, Tsubame, whose face was still flushed, pushed open the door and walked out, clearing her throat twice and saying:
"I've changed."
Fujiwara Chika happily went up to her: "Senpai, guess who I am?"
Koyasu Tsubame said speechlessly:
"Chika-chan, Natsuki already told me your identity."
Fujiwara Chika puffed out her pink cheeks and looked at Amamiya Natsuki.
"Let's go back to the restaurant first." Amamiya Natsuki led the w out, "Everyone must be getting impatient."
"…"
Everyone followed suit.
No words were exchanged along the w.
A few minutes later, the group safely returned to the pitch-black restaurant.
Amamiya Natsuki turned on his flashlight, shone it on himself, and said:
"I'm back."
The three hidden girls then revealed themselves, coming out from a corner.
"It's Shoko, right?" Fujiwara Chika put her hands on her hips, lifted her chin, "Guess who I am."
Komi blinked and held up her notebook: "It's Chika-chan."
"How amazing." Fujiwara Chika was surprised, "You recognized me at a glance?"
Komi turned her head upon hearing this and glanced at Amamiya Natsuki.
Actually, they had been communicating in writing all along, so she naturally knew Chika's identity.
Fujiwara Chika didn't ask further and then looked at the petite junior high girl next to her, curiously asking:
"Oh, why didn't Juju disguise herself?"
Juju's eyes twitched, she crossed her arms over her chest, and turned her head to look elsewhere:
"It's a long story…"
"Natsuki said your role is Miss Hachishakusama." Fujiwara Chika clasped her hands over her chest, her eyes sparkling, "I want to see it!"
"…"
Upon hearing this, Juju's pink cheeks involuntarily puffed out, and she couldn't help but turn to glare at Amamiya Natsuki.
She didn't even bring her clothes back, how could she transform into Miss Hachishakusama!
"Um…" Juju cleared her throat twice, "It's a bit inconvenient."
Fujiwara Chika said expectantly:
"Then when will it be convenient?"
Juju turned and walked aw: "I have something else to do, goodbye."
"…"
At the same time.
Amamiya Natsuki had just settled Miss Sadako when Shinomiya Kaguya walked over and whispered:
"Hanamori said you want to recruit Miss Sadako?"
"I do have that idea." Amamiya Natsuki nodded slightly, answering in a low voice, "A kaidan that can enter and exit other instances is clearly not ordinary. Recruiting Miss Sadako can not only supplement the Theater's staff but perhaps also allow us to explore the secrets behind the game."
"Is that so." Shinomiya Kaguya pursed her pink lips, "It's certainly worth trying to recruit her."
After a few words, Amamiya Natsuki suddenly felt someone looking at him. He turned to see the Senpai standing not far aw, with a hesitant expression on her face.
"Senpai, what's wrong?"
Amamiya Natsuki asked.
"That…" Koyasu Tsubame tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and whispered, "Natsuki, have you seen Headless JK?"
"I told her to come back earlier, why haven't I seen her?"
Headless JK had alws been by the Senpai's side, and they had developed some affection. Now, not seeing Headless JK's whereabouts, she was naturally very concerned.
"I haven't seen Headless JK at all." Amamiya Natsuki said, "She might be lost."
"Eh, lost?" The Senpai was surprised, "The Hospital is only so big…"
Mid-sentence, Koyasu Tsubame couldn't help but purse her pink lips.
Headless JK was cute, but unfortunately, she had no head, so getting lost by not being able to see was normal.
"It's not necessarily that she's lost." Amamiya Natsuki comforted her, "Maybe she didn't come to the restaurant but is waiting for me in the consultation room. We'll check the consultation room later. Even if we don't find her, there's no need to worry; Headless JK isn't human."
"…"
Leaving Miss Sadako in the kitchen, Amamiya Natsuki and the others gathered in the front restaurant to discuss their next plan of action.
"Everyone's character tasks aren't urgent." Fujiwara Chika raised her hand to speak, "The primary goal is to find Marin-chan."
"That's right."
"Agreed."
The others nodded in agreement.
Being out of contact for too long naturally makes people worried.
"There aren't many unexplored areas left." Hayasaka Ai said, "If everyone acts together, it shouldn't be hard to find Marin."
"There's something I need to mention." Amamiya Natsuki intertwined his fingers and said, "We don't have many mushrooms left."
Shinomiya Kaguya looked over: "How many are left?"
"One."
"…"
The sinful mushroom has a storage limit, and it's almost exhausted now, with only one left.
Without a mushroom on her head, even if they passed by each other, Kitagawa Marin wouldn't dare to step forward and acknowledge him.
"Natsuki, plant another mushroom for me." Koyasu Tsubame turned to look at him, her gaze firm, and clenched her pink fist, saying, "I will definitely find Marin-chan."
Not only did she not help just now, but she also wasted everyone's time, which was too embarrassing. She had to make up for it!
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for dozens of advance chapters for over a dozen fics | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter