After all, I had already promised Utaha for Saturday, so I couldn't go bay word!

  Okay!

  Eriri didn't think too much about it. Ryuji mentioned having something scheduled, so she naturally assumed it was something important.

  *****

  Support me on patreon to read 40+ advanced chapters: patreon./Blownleaves.

  Then how about Sunday at noon?

  Sure!

  Yay!

  With Ryuji's clear response, Eriri jumped up iement.

  "Great! Great! Great! Great!"

  She cheered out loud.

  "What should I wear that day?"

  She wao appear in her most beautiful form.

  Eriri immediately rushed to her closet, s through her rge colle of clothes, and began trying on different outfits in front of the mirror.

  "..."

  Meanwhile, outside the door, Sayuri, Eriri's mother, peeked in and observed her daughter's enthusiastic behavior. Slowly, she started to realize something.

  Is she in love?

  No… it seemed more like her daughter had turned into a plete bootlicker!

  After ing to this realization, Sayuri couldn't help but feel more helpless. Due to Eriri's personality, Sayuri had always worried about whether her daughter could ever find a boyfriend.

  But now, it looked like her daughter was evolving into a total bootlicker!

  Sigh…

  I, Sayuri Sawamura, who have a great reputation, how did I end up with a daughter like this?

  No! I o check out who this boy is!

  With that thought, Sayuri's face grew more serious. No matter what, this was her daughter. She couldn't just sit bad let her daughter be taken advantage of! Quietly, she closed the door a.

  However, Eriri, who was lost in her owement, didn't notiything.

  ---

  "I have the potential to be a master of time ma!"

  Ryuji couldn't help but sigh after putting his phone down.

  "What's that?"

  At that moment, Miko, who had just finished preparing dinner, came out of the kit and looked at Ryuji curiously. She hadn't heard what Ryuji had just said.

  "Nothing important."

  Ryuji smiled and put his phone away as he walked over.

  Even though he knew Miko was well-behaved and uanding, he didn't o mention this particur topic right now. There would be time to talk about it ter.

  Though Ryuji had no iions of being the "good guy" type, he also didn't pn on deceiving any of the women in his life.

  There was still one day left before the weekend holiday.

  He still had to go to school.

  But what he didn't expect was to receive a call from Shizuka on his way to school.

  "What are your pns for tomorrow's weekend?"

  The moment the call ected, Shizuka's carefree voice rang out.

  From the tone of her voice, Ryuji could tell she was hoping they could spend the weekend together.

  Ryuji didn't mind, but…

  "I already have pns. Does going on a date with two beautiful girls t as a weekend arra?"

  "..."

  Shizuka went silent oher end of the phone.

  "Then don't ever bother ing ain in your life!"

  "Hahaha!"

  Ryuji could easily imagihe expression she must have had at that moment.

  "Well, how about I e over tonight to make up for it?"

  "Oh, I'm so sorry! I wouldn't want to disturb your date with those two lovely dies!"

  Although Shizuka had half-expected this situation, it was impossible for her not to feel at least a little jealous after hearing what Ryuji said. There was a clear trace of sarcasm in her voice.

  "So, I won't e over to your pce then."

  "No way!"

  Her shout was like a kitten's hiss when its fur stood on end.

  "You said you'd e, so you have to e!"

  "Alright, alright!"

  Teasing Shizuka from time to time was always fun.

  ---

  After hanging up the call, Miko, who had been standing nearby, looked over at Ryuji and asked curiously, "Who was that?"

  Ryuji hadn't bothered hiding the phone call, so it was only natural for Miko to have overheard it.

  She wasn't upset, just curious.

  "It was Shizuka."

  "Hiratsuka Sensei?" Miko asked, a bit surprised. She hadn't expected that.

  She had thought most of Ryuji's close friends were around her age, but now it seemed like that wasn't the case.

  "Doesn't this just prove that I'm even more attractive as a man?"

  Ryuji grinned, ing an arm around Miko's shoulders.

  "..."

  ---

  The was bustling that m.

  Small groups had gathered to chat and talk about various lively topics.

  Among them was Hayato, a puy in the css who, for some reason, had bee unusually quiet. He sat alone, lost in thought.

  Meanwhile, over in the girls' group, a strange silence had fallen over Yumiko and her friends.

  When they first arrived at the , they noticed that all of them had developed even darker circles uheir eyes. For a moment, they exged looks but said nothing.

  Just a few days ago, they had tried f each other by saying the strange dreams they were having were probably just psychological effects.

  But now, they couldn't even muster words of fort.

  The dreams they had st night felt more real thahe terrifying presehin those nightmares was growing stronger. It felt like, in a few days, that thing from their dreams would show up in real life.

  Fear had settled deep in their hearts. Sleep had bee elusive, and none of them felt at ease anymore.

  Yumiko and the others were too exhausted to even sit together and talk.

  Only Yui kept gng over at Ryuji, unsure if she should ask him for help. Her hesitation lihroughout the m and sted until lunch break.

  She watched as Ryuji left the , still struggling to call out to him, but fear held her back.

  "We're going to die, aren't we?"

  Uhe lively atmosphere in the , Yumiko and Hina looked utterly drained aed.

  Even Yumiko, who had always been tough, didn't bother putting up a strong front anymore. She had always brushed off the nightmares as psychological tricks, but after what she had experie night, she could no longer deny it.

  She was really scared.

  "Is there really no way out?"

  A young girl like her didn't want to die so soon.

  "If these things are real, then there must be people who hahem!"

  "How about we go to a shrier school?" Hina suggested.

  People who dealt with spirits and the supernatural would probably be found at shrines, right?

  "It's no use! I've already tried that."

  Yumiko lowered her head.

  Yesterday, she had visited a famous temple nearby, hoping to find a solution.

  She spent a lot of money on protective charms, but none of it worked. The nightmares still came.

  "They're just a bunch of scammers…"

  Hina didn't know what to say. Yumiko's experience had shattered any hope she had.

  At this point, they were out of ideas.

  "That..."

  Just whemosphere felt suffog, Yui, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke up.

  She seemed timid, but her voice carried a hint of resolve.

  "I know someone who help with this!"

  "???"

  Yumiko and Hina both looked at her, surprised.

  ---

  Meanwhile, at the Service Club, things were a bit livelier than usual.

  Thanks to Rikka and Sahe room was filled with energy.

  "Oh!"

  Rikka's eyes sparkled when she saw Ryuji's high colr.

  "Is this a new look? Today's Guardian Knight must be a noble magi!" She excitedly struck a few poses in front of him.

  "If that's the case, let me, the wielder of the Tyrant Eye, be your oppo, Great Magi of the Abyss!"

  "..."

  The Great Magi of the Abyss? Is that my itle now?

  Watg Rikka bounce around happily, Ryuji didn't bother correg her.

  "No, no!" Sanae chimed in, shaking her head seriously.

  "I think this looks more like a bard's outfit."

  "Magi!"

  "Bard!"

  "Magi!"

  "..."

  Is there really a reason tue about this?

  Watg the two bicker, everyone else in the room aside from Ryuji looked thhly fused.

  However, the atmosphere was so cheerful that even Yukino, who usually preferred quiet, didn't say anything to stop them.

  After all, even Yukino longed for friendship, even if she didn't admit it.

  Notig Ryuji's gaze, Yukino quickly looked away.

  The effect of st night's dreamwalking seemed to have worked quite well.

  Perhaps it was time to intensify things.

  Ryuji was rather pleased with her rea.

  Just then, a kno the door interrupted the lively argument in the room.

  Everyone exged ghen all turo look at Ryuji even Yukino.

  Wait, aren't you the president of this club?

  "Why are you all looking at me? If someone's knog, open the door!"

  ---

  The people who walked in were Yumiko, Yui, and Hina.

  On the way over, Yui had told Yumiko about how she had seen Ryuji demonstrate his strange powers.

  Yumiko found it hard to believe at first. But because Yui was her friend, she decided to e and see for herself.

  However, what Yumiko didn't expect was to run into her "lifelong rival" here.

  "You… Yukino?"

  Seeing Yukino sitting in the clubroom, Yumiko's expression darkened.

  Notig Yumiko's hostile gaze, Yukino frowned. She reized Yumiko immediately. She had memorized the names and faces of all the students in their grade, and Yumiko's reputation preceded her. It wasn't surprising that she knew who she was.

  However, what was with the attitude? They had never really ied before.

  "Yumiko!"

  As her friends, both Yui and Hina knew how Yumiko felt about Yukino. They quickly tried to defuse the tension, pulling on Yumiko's arm before things could escate.

  "Please, Yumiko. We came here to ask for help. This isn't the time for a fight."

  "..."

  Yumiko wasn't unreasonable. She khe importance of their situation.

  She took a deep breath and refocused. After calming herself, she finally spoke seriously.

  "We're here to ask for help."

  The moment she said that, everyone in the Service Club room including Ryuji exged surprised gnces.

  Yumiko expined on the way that she had learned from Yui that Ryuji was involved in a club called the Service Club. She had also found out what kind of things the club did.

  However, what Yumiko hadn't known was that the club president was her than her supposed nemesis, Yukino.

  Yumiko's dislike of Yukino didn't stem from any real flict. It was more a matter of their natural personas g.

  Yumiko was fiery and popur, while Yukino was cool, distant, and admired from afar.

  To Yumiko, Yukino's cold attitude always seemed fake, like she utting on an act to appear superior to everyone.

  ---

  "Need help?" Yukied, a bit surprised by the seriousness in Yumiko's tone.

  This was the first time a student had directly e to the Service Club seeking assistance. (Her enters with Shizuka Hiratsuka didn't t.)

  Yukino's demeanor ged instantly, being more focused and professional.

  "So, what do you need help with?"