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Nine in the morning.
Amusement park entrance.
With the rainy season gone and summer here, coupled with a weekend holiday, the amusement park entrance was bustling with crowds, lively and exciting.
"Natsuki-kun, have you seen Kaguya-chan?"
Fujiwara Chika stood on her tiptoes, looking around.
Amamiya Natsuki shook his head:
"I haven't seen her."
"Strange, it's already 9:10, and Kaguya-chan still hasn't arrived," Fujiwara Chika frowned slightly, a little worried. "Kaguya-chan has never been late before."
Kitagawa Marin mused: "Could it be traffic?"
Koyasu Tsubame said from the side: "If she were late, she should send a message, right?"
Juju also came to play today: "Could it be that she's sick again?"
"Mhm, mhm."
Komi listened silently. She originally wanted to stay home, but Marin directly dragged her along.
"…"
Several girls discussed, all a little worried. Unfortunately, the Sheltered Young Lady's phone couldn't be reached, and her messages went unanswered.
"Why hasn't Kaguya arrived?"
Amamiya Natsuki took out his phone and sent a message to Maid Hayasaka. It couldn't be that both of them forgot their phones.
A moment later.
Maid Hayasaka replied: "The Miss has been grounded, and her phone has been confiscated."
"Reason?"
"The Miss frequently missed classes recently, so Young Master Un'yo forced her to study at home."
He's already a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties, why call him Young Master!
But thinking about it, there are still seventy-year-old princes in the world, so a forty or fifty-year-old Young Master seems acceptable.
Amamiya Natsuki put away his phone and explained the situation to the girls.
"I see," Fujiwara Chika relaxed. "Uncle Un'yo is indeed a very cold person."
Koyasu Tsubame pursed her pink lips and said softly: "Kaguya-san must be unhappy, right?"
"No choice, after all, it's Kaguya-san's family matter."
"…"
Since they were already there, even though the Sheltered Young Lady's absence was a pity, the amusement park trip had to continue.
Evening arrived in a flash.
After a day at the amusement park, just as they were about to head home, Amamiya Natsuki suddenly stopped and looked at his phone.
Shinomiya Kaguya sent a message: "…I'm sorry everyone."
"Ah, it's Kaguya-chan's message," Fujiwara Chika's eyes lit up. "It seems Kaguya-chan got her phone back."
"It's okay, we can play again next time we have free time."
"Kaguya-chan, here are the photos we took today."
"I was also grounded by my parents when I was in elementary school."
Everyone sent messages, comforting the Sheltered Young Lady.
However, Shinomiya Kaguya did not reply, only silently sent a single sentence:
"I don't want to attend the banquet… Save me."
The message only existed for two seconds before being quickly recalled, but it was enough for everyone to see clearly.
"Eh eh eh?"
"Did Kaguya-chan just ask for help?"
"I saw it too."
Marin asked, confused: "Is the banquet scary?"
"For people who don't like socializing, it's indeed very difficult to endure," Koyasu Tsubame said softly. "But it's Kaguya-san's family matter after all…"
At this moment, Mrs. Shimizu stepped forward, her tone calm:
"I am Kaguya-chan's mother, and I have the right to inquire about family matters. Even if it means running away from home, I don't want Kaguya-chan to constantly force herself… Natsuki-kun, what do you say?"
"What else can I say?" Amamiya Natsuki put away his phone, turned, and walked out. "Kaguya-san just asked for help, didn't she?"
Fujiwara Chika stepped to follow, clenching her pink fist: "I'm going too, to rescue Kaguya-chan!"
"And me, let's all go together."
"…"
The journey was silent.
By the time they arrived near the villa, the sky had completely darkened.
"There are security guards patrolling inside the villa," Fujiwara Chika whispered. "Let's discuss the infiltration plan first."
"You all discuss first," Amamiya Natsuki took out his hamster cloak, throwing it over himself. "I'm going in."
"Eh, wait," Kitagawa Marin reached out and called out, "If you just go in with the cloak, what do we do?"
Amamiya Natsuki thought for two seconds: "…You can be cheerleaders."
"…"
For ordinary people, infiltrating such a villa with security guards, patrols, and surveillance would be extremely difficult, but in Amamiya Natsuki's eyes, it posed no challenge at all.
He arrived at a blind spot in the surveillance, took out a retractable grappling hook from his backpack, and easily infiltrated the villa.
With the cloak draped over him and the cover of night, Amamiya Natsuki was like a ghost, silent and unnoticed. Two security guards patrolled past him without any discovery.
Watching the two security guards walk away, Amamiya Natsuki took out his phone and sent a message to Hayasaka.
"Where is Kaguya-san?"
Maid Hayasaka quickly replied: "The Young Miss is in her room."
Amamiya Natsuki: "I'm already inside. I'm planning to trick Kaguya-san into running away from home. What do you say?"
Hayasaka Ai: "The Miss secretly running away from home, what does that have to do with me?"
Amamiya Natsuki: "Want to run away from home together? There are many rooms at my place, and rent is free."
Seeing the message on her phone, Hayasaka Ai's lips curved slightly:
"I'm sorry, paying rent with my body, that's really too soon. I must decline."
"…"
Putting away his phone, Amamiya Natsuki headed straight for the Sheltered Young Lady's room.
It was a good thing he had been there with Chika two days ago, otherwise, he really wouldn't have found it in a short time.
He stealthily made his way downstairs to the second floor, where Shinomiya Kaguya lived.
Amamiya Natsuki looked up and saw the lights on inside.
With a throw of his grappling hook, he easily leaped onto the balcony. Amamiya Natsuki walked to the balcony door and politely knocked.
"…"
The blurry figure behind the glass window did not speak, but instead instantly hid itself.
It must be said, the Sheltered Young Lady was quite vigilant.
Fortunately, Mrs. Shimizu was there, so there was no need to worry about accidentally harming an ally.
"Kaguya-chan, open the door. Mother has come to see you."
Mrs. Shimizu smiled and passed through the door.
"Eh, Mother?"
Shinomiya Kaguya's surprised voice echoed in the room.
Thump, thump, thump.
The sound of running footsteps rang out.
Immediately after, the door opened, and Shinomiya Kaguya, dressed in a long black dress, looked out with surprise, her eyes sparkling in the night as she said, "President?"
Amamiya Natsuki extended his right hand and said, "The moon is beautiful tonight. Would you like to come out and admire it with me?"
Shinomiya Kaguya pursed her pink lips, turned her head to look east, where a silver moon had quietly risen at some unknown time.
Looking at Amamiya Natsuki's outstretched right hand, Shinomiya Kaguya gently took it, a slight smile gracing her rosy lips: "Since the President has come specifically to invite me, I'll reluctantly agree."
"Life is short, like the morning dew; the past days have been full of bitterness. An unhappy life is a waste of time," Mrs. Shimizu floated over, her voice uncharacteristically gentle. "Kaguya-chan, how about living with Mother for a while?"
"Okay."
Shinomiya Kaguya softly agreed.
Living together for a while… in essence, it meant running away from home.
If she hadn't become a player and hadn't met Amamiya Natsuki, she would have hesitated.
But now, there was not a trace of hesitation in her heart.
Compared to her three brothers, whom she only saw once a year and with whom she had no familial affection, Mother was the closest person in the world to her.
Leaving this villa, Shinomiya Kaguya would have no reluctance or hesitation.
Amamiya Natsuki looked at Kaguya: "Leaving now?"
"Let me get my school bag," Shinomiya Kaguya pursed her pink lips and thought for a moment. "And write a letter."
The two returned to the room, and Shinomiya Kaguya suddenly said, "Oh, you haven't given me my phone yet."
"You pack your things first," Amamiya Natsuki said. "I'll go get your phone."
Shinomiya Kaguya softly said, "My phone was taken away during breakfast this morning. It should be in the Head Maid's room."
"Don't worry, leave it to me."
Amamiya Natsuki waved his hand, put on his cloak, and pushed the door open to leave.
Amamiya Natsuki didn't know where the Head Maid's room was, nor was he interested in searching slowly. He directly took out his phone and sent a message to Hayasaka:
"I'm in the restroom at the end of the second floor. Bring Kaguya's phone to me."
The Sheltered Young Lady hadn't touched her phone all day, so without a doubt, the person sending the message was Maid Hayasaka.
Hayasaka Ai: "…Burglary is a very serious crime. Natsuki-kun, don't harm yourself. If you surrender in time, you can get a lighter sentence."
Amamiya Natsuki: "Well said, but unfortunately, I've committed other crimes, so surrendering now is useless. Hurry to the restroom, you don't want your Miss to lose her virginity, do you?"
Hayasaka Ai: "…"
A moment later.
Footsteps entered the restroom.
Amamiya Natsuki lightly coughed, indicating his location.
"Senpai?"
Hayasaka Ai's voice softly sounded.
Amamiya Natsuki opened the door and pulled Maid Hayasaka, who was outside the door, into the stall.
Hayasaka Ai's expression remained unchanged, and she calmly said:
"Perverted Sir, who breaks into houses to steal people, I have kept my promise and come. Please do not harm the Miss."
This Hayasaka had different personalities in different forms. The Hayasaka was clingy and flirty, while her maid form was calm and composed, always expressionless, as if she could easily handle anything, and was also very sharp-tongued and good at giving rejections.
"Since you know I'm a thief, you should be very clear that a thief doesn't leave empty-handed, right?" Amamiya Natsuki pulled Maid Hayasaka into his arms. "Since I'm letting your Miss go, it'll be you instead."
Slap.
Hayasaka Ai extended her right hand, blocking Amamiya Natsuki's mouth, and slightly tilted her pretty face, saying:
"Did Senpai kiss the Miss just now?"
"Of course not," Amamiya Natsuki said. "Shimizu-nee was right next to us."
"Tsk."
Maid Hayasaka lightly tsked, her tone disappointed, "How boring."
What an amazing perverted maid! Would it only be interesting if he kissed the Sheltered Young Lady first, and then came to kiss you?
Amamiya Natsuki held Maid Hayasaka and asked:
"What impact will Kaguya running away from home have on you?"
Hayasaka Ai lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly: "Well, I might lose my job."
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"Coincidentally, my home still lacks a maid. Room and board are provided, but there's no salary."
Hayasaka Ai crossed her arms over her chest: "I'm sorry, I haven't actually lost my job yet, and Senpai is already thinking of taking advantage of the situation, and it's for free. I'm sorry, Senpai is too frivolous. Please allow me to refuse."
"…"
After a few more words, Hayasaka Ai took out her phone from her pocket and handed it to Amamiya Natsuki, and the two left together.
With the traitor Hayasaka scouting ahead, Amamiya Natsuki didn't even sneak around, but openly returned directly to the room.
"I'm back."
Amamiya Natsuki pushed the door open and entered the room, handing the phone to Kaguya, "I didn't fail. I got the phone."
Shinomiya Kaguya softly said:
"President, you worked hard."
Amamiya Natsuki thought carefully about what he had just done… Well, he actually didn't do anything, so it wasn't hard at all.
"Are your things packed?" Amamiya Natsuki asked.
Shinomiya Kaguya nodded: "Yes, they are."
"Then I'll go down first."
Returning to the balcony, Amamiya Natsuki grabbed the grappling hook, slid down from the balcony, and then extended his arms, looking up and saying:
"Jump down, I'll catch you."
"Okay."
Shinomiya Kaguya didn't hesitate and jumped down.
A fragrant breeze filled his embrace.
Amamiya Natsuki steadily caught the Miss in a princess carry.
Mrs. Shimizu floated down, her tone faint: "Kaguya-chan could have slid down the grappling hook too, couldn't she?"
Shinomiya Kaguya's pretty face flushed slightly. She jumped from Amamiya Natsuki's embrace to the ground, casually tucking a strand of hair behind her ear: "That would waste too much time. Since I want to escape, it's necessary to seize the moment."
"Kaguya-san is right. If you don't move, fine, but once you choose to act, speed is important." Amamiya Natsuki nodded in agreement, then looked at Kaguya, "There's only one cloak. Do you want to use Dark Shadow to leave?"
"I don't want to!"
Shinomiya Kaguya flatly refused, giving him an annoyed look, "There are many ways to leave; it's not necessary to use a skill, is it?"
"Alright, I admit it," Amamiya Natsuki lowered his voice. "It's been a long time since I saw Kaguya-san in her bunny girl outfit. I miss it very much."
Shinomiya Kaguya's pretty face quickly reddened: "…Pervert!"
Besides transforming into a Dark Shadow, there were indeed other ways to leave.
Amamiya Natsuki, wearing the cloak, climbed over the wall first using the same method.
He then handed the cloak to Mrs. Shimizu, letting Mrs. Shimizu pass the item, the tool-person was quite useful.
A moment later.
Shinomiya Kaguya avoided the patrolling security guards and climbed over the wall to leave the villa.
"Let's go," Amamiya Natsuki waited outside the wall. "Everyone is waiting for you."
"Eh?" Shinomiya Kaguya was startled, "You mean…"
"That's right, exactly what you're thinking."
Walking along the road, they turned a corner, and the girls who had been waiting for a long time all appeared before them.
"Kaguya-chan, you're out."
"Kaguya-san, good evening."
"…"
Looking at the girls around the corner, Shinomiya Kaguya gently exhaled, a smile appearing on her face:
"Good evening, everyone."
Several girls gathered together, chattering away. Amamiya Natsuki listened for a while, then suggested:
"I'm hungry. Let's go eat first and talk while we eat."
Kitagawa Marin clutched her stomach: "I am a bit hungry."
"Shall we all go for all-you-can-eat barbecue?" Fujiwara Chika suggested. "I know a newly opened barbecue place, and the food is super delicious."
Shinomiya Kaguya turned her head and looked back the way they came. The villa was still brightly lit, and presumably no one knew she had left yet.
Speaking of which, ever since she moved into this villa, she had always been picked up and dropped off by car whenever she went out. This was her first time walking out, and she never expected it to be for running away from home…
"Kaguya-san, let's go," Amamiya Natsuki turned and called out.
"Coming."
Shinomiya Kaguya withdrew her gaze, took two quick steps, and came to Amamiya Natsuki's side.
The journey was silent.
After eating all-you-can-eat barbecue, it was already nine in the evening.
Everyone said their goodbyes and went home.
"Kaguya-chan, come home with me?"
Fujiwara Chika enthusiastically invited.
"No," Shinomiya Kaguya shook her head. "Auntie and Uncle will definitely ask why, and explaining it will be troublesome."
Mrs. Shimizu smiled: "This is Kaguya-chan's first time running away from home, of course she has to be with Mother."
"Alright then," Fujiwara Chika sighed in disappointment. "It's Kaguya-chan's first time running away from home, and she didn't choose me. What a shame."
Amamiya Natsuki said from the side:
"You can come over tonight."
"Hmm…" Fujiwara Chika was tempted for two seconds, then finally shook her head. "Never mind. I've been out a lot recently, and my parents are a bit worried. I've stayed over at Kaguya-chan's house before, but it's been too frequent lately."
Amamiya Natsuki then looked at the Succubus Girl: "Where's Marin?"
"I'm going home too." Kitagawa Marin put her right hand on her hip and said, "I'm meeting friends tomorrow to go shopping for clothes, so I can't stand them up. I need to go home tonight to get ready for tomorrow. My clothes and bags are all at home."
After seeing everyone off, Amamiya Natsuki turned to Mrs. Shimizu and said, "Let's go, we're going home."
Shinomiya Kaguya's eyes flickered, and she softly replied, "Okay."
With Mrs. Shimizu there, nothing happened on the way.
"It's so hot outside."
Amamiya Natsuki pushed the door open and entered the house.
Shinomiya Kaguya followed behind him and softly said, "Excuse me for intruding."
"Kaguya-chan, you said it wrong," Mrs. Shimizu said with a smile, "You should say, 'I'm home.'"
"No," Shinomiya Kaguya muttered softly, "When you're a guest at someone else's house, of course you say, 'Excuse me for intruding.'"
Mrs. Shimizu smiled, "What does it matter? We'll definitely be a family in the future."
"A-a family…"
The Sheltered Young Lady's pretty face quickly flushed red, and she turned her head away.
They hadn't even confessed or started dating, so how were they a family?
Even if they confessed, they could only be called a family after they got married!
Now that the law has been amended, changing the marriage age to eighteen, it means she still has to wait two years. Only then can she openly say, "I'm home…"
Wait, wait a minute!
Shinomiya Kaguya suddenly sobered up, her pretty face as red as fire.
To get married just to say "I'm home" – that's too much of a loss, no matter how she thought about it!
Amamiya Natsuki walked over with a cold drink, interrupting the Sheltered Young Lady's wild thoughts, and said, "Kaguya, have this cold drink, then go take a bath first."
"Okay."
Shinomiya Kaguya took a deep breath, quickly dispelling the wild thoughts in her mind, took the cold drink, and took a small bite.
After finishing the cold drink, she took out a change of underwear from her backpack and went to the bathroom.
She felt quite nervous while bathing.
Her first time running away from home, her first time staying alone at a boy's house. Would the President suddenly burst in and do this and that to her?
Unfortunately, nothing happened.
Even after she finished bathing and got dressed, the door never opened.
"Natsuki-kun, I'm done."
Shinomiya Kaguya pushed the door open and came out.
"I'll go wash."
Amamiya Natsuki put down his phone. For some reason, there seemed to be a hint of inexplicable resentment in the Sheltered Young Lady's voice.
He walked into the bathroom.
Amamiya Natsuki's steps suddenly paused, his gaze drawn to a palm-sized teddy bear in the storage basket.
Is it really okay to just openly display it here?
You're intentionally tempting people to commit a crime, aren't you?!
"Wait––"
Amamiya Natsuki suddenly realized.
This the Sheltered Young Lady has always had everything done for her, so… she wasn't intentionally seducing him, but rather, her life experience was basically zero?
Shinomiya Mashiro?
Shiina Kaguya?
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr