In just over ten minutes, the ferry docked at the port of Sakurajima.
"Grab your things and get ready to disembark," Amamiya said as he tucked his phone away. Following the crowd, he and Umi stepped off the ferry.
"It's a volcano," Umi murmured, shading her eyes with one hand as she gazed at the smoking crater in the distance. Awe colored her voice as she added, "An active volcano!"
Amamiya also looked up. Against the clear blue sky, the plume of smoke rising from the crater was striking.
"Mount Fuji is also an active volcano," Amamiya pointed out.
"That's different," Umi countered quickly. "Mount Fuji doesn't puff out smoke every day."
"Sometimes the quiet volcanoes are the most dangerous," Amamiya replied calmly.
"That... might be true," Umi admitted hesitantly, then suddenly looked nervous. "Hey, do you think it's going to erupt today?"
She quickened her pace, reaching out to grab the corner of Amamiya's clothes like a child seeking reassurance.
"There are still thousands of permanent residents living on Sakurajima," Amamiya said as he adjusted the strap of his backpack. "The volcano erupts frequently—sometimes daily—but I've never heard of anyone losing their life to it. The worst I've heard of is someone getting injured by falling debris."
Sakurajima, located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, was infamous for its volcanic activity. Though relatively small in area, it was home to three active volcanoes that erupted, on average, once a day. For Kagoshima's residents, cleaning up volcanic ash was just another part of their daily routine.
At that moment, the crater above continued to emit smoke and ash, and a fine layer of volcanic dust occasionally drifted down like snow.
For first-time visitors, such sights were nerve-wracking. But for the island's long-time residents, it was little more than a large-scale firework display—barely worth a second glance.
"Where's your dad?" Amamiya asked.
"Here." Umi handed over her phone. "I just asked him to send me a picture."
Amamiya glanced at the screen. The image showed a middle-aged man in a suit, his features refined but carrying a hint of weariness. It wasn't surprising—few middle-aged office workers looked genuinely energetic.
Umi looked around and pointed toward a nearby bike rental stand. "Looks like we can rent bicycles. It doesn't seem too far. Should we ride over?"
Amamiya lowered his gaze, taking in Umi's outfit. She was still dressed in her high school uniform—a sky-blue skirt paired with black over-the-knee socks. The sea breeze playfully tugged at the hem of her skirt, revealing a faint hint of her "absolute territory."
"Isn't it inconvenient to ride a bike in a skirt?" Amamiya asked matter-of-factly.
"Of course not!" Umi planted her hands on her hips confidently, oblivious to the risk of her skirt riding up. "I've done it plenty of times before."
"It's windy today," Amamiya remarked, his tone deadpan. "And your skirt is too short."
"Huh?"
Caught off guard, Umi's cheeks turned pink. She quickly pressed her hands against her skirt, glaring at Amamiya. "You've been peeking, haven't you? Pervert!"
"I wasn't peeking," Amamiya replied, utterly unfazed. "I was admiring. Openly."
"Shameless!"
"Thank you."
"…"
Their exchange was interrupted by the cheerful ringing of a bicycle bell. A boy sped past on a bike, a girl seated on the back.
Umi's eyes lit up as she tugged on Amamiya's sleeve. "Amamiya, Amamiya! Let's rent bikes too! Please?" Her gaze sparkled with childlike enthusiasm, as if begging for a treat.
Amamiya pulled out his phone without a word.
"Hello? I'd like to report a traffic violation," he said into the receiver.
"Huh?" Umi blinked in confusion.
Amamiya continued, his tone serious. "Yes, Mr. Officer. A bicycle just passed by going 180 miles per hour, with a passenger on the back. It's clearly a case of dangerous driving…"
"That's impossible!" Umi exclaimed, exasperated. "Bikes can't go that fast! And dangerous driving only applies to motor vehicles!"
Amamiya raised an eyebrow. "You actually knew that?"
"I'm not an idiot!" she huffed, puffing out her cheeks in indignation. Hooking her arm around his, she pouted. "If they can ride bikes, we can too! Let's go ask about the rules first."
Under Japanese law, bicycles are strictly for solo riders, with the exception of carrying infants. Other rules, such as the prohibition of riding with one hand or cycling under the influence of alcohol, further complicate matters.
Of course, enforcement was a different story. Much like underage drinking, unless someone was caught red-handed, repercussions were rare.
The bike rental station was conveniently close to the port, just a short stroll away. It bustled with tourists eager to explore Sakurajima on two wheels.
When Amamiya asked about riding with a passenger, the employee's response was vague.
"Well, technically no, but... there aren't many vehicles on Sakurajima aside from the sightseeing buses."
"I see," Amamiya said with a nod, then turned to Umi. "Let's rent a bike."
In principle, "no" often translated to "yes."
After securing a rental, the pair wheeled their bicycle onto the road.
"Alright~"
Umi perched herself sideways on the back seat, wrapping one arm around Amamiya's waist and pointing dramatically toward the horizon. Her voice rang out, bright and carefree:
"Onward!"
Amamiya pedaled forward at a leisurely pace. "It's too hot for you to cling so tightly."
"Nope. Gotta hold on tight so I don't fall off," Umi countered stubbornly.
"…"
The morning sun shone brightly.
A gentle sea breeze rustled their hair.
Seagulls and herons circled lazily in the azure sky.
The line between the ocean and the heavens blurred, creating a breathtaking scene.
Save for the occasional evil spirits roaming in the distance and the ominous smoke rising from the crater, their bike ride was surprisingly serene.
Twenty minutes later.
They arrived safely at Akamizu Observation Plaza.
"Amamiya, stop!" Umi's eyes lit up as she spotted a middle-aged man chatting with someone in the square. She pointed excitedly. "That's my dad!"
The father and daughter only reunited during New Year's and Obon. While video calls bridged the gap during the year, they were no substitute for meeting face-to-face.
"Got it."
Amamiya brought the bike to a halt.
"Let's sneak up on him and give him a surprise!" Umi said with a mischievous grin, placing her hands on her hips. "Park the bike first."
As Amamiya dismounted, he glanced at her father and said flatly, "No need for surprises."
"Huh? Why not?"
"Your dad already saw us."
"…"
Turning around, Umi met her father's astonished gaze.
"You can't see me! You can't see me!"
Panicking, she raised her hands to cover her face.
"Don't bother," Amamiya muttered. "He's coming over."
A moment later, her father hurried toward them, his expression one of disbelief.
"Umi?"
Umi tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her face glowing with joy as she beamed up at him.
"Dad, I'm here to see you!"
After six long months, their reunion was heartwarming.
"Tokyo's so far from Kagoshima. Why come all of a sudden?"
"I dreamed about you a few nights ago," Umi said, her voice soft and sincere. She had carefully planned her words, steering clear of any mention of the game. "I missed you so much. If I didn't have school, I would've come right away."
"Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
"I wanted to surprise you."
"…"
After a brief exchange, her father's attention shifted to Amamiya. His gaze sharpened as he asked calmly:
"Are you Umi's boyfriend?"
Amamiya bowed politely, his demeanor composed. "Hello, sir. It's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for your guidance."
"Dad! What are you saying?" Umi's face turned a bright shade of red. She protested loudly, "We're not like that!"
If he hasn't confessed, he's not my boyfriend!
Amamiya explained without missing a beat, "I've always wanted to visit Kagoshima. When Umi mentioned she wanted to surprise you, we decided to come together."
"Yes, exactly!" Umi nodded fervently. "That's it!"
Her father raised an eyebrow. "Do you think I believe that?"
"…"
Despite the lighthearted exchange, Amamiya subtly signaled Umi, reminding her of their real objective.
This trip wasn't just about reuniting with family; they needed to determine whether her father was an unfortunate participant in the game.
The method was simple.
All players could see evil spirits, and none would willingly get close to them. A quick stroll past one of the wandering evil spirits would reveal the truth.
As it happened, an evil spirit was wandering in the square. Following Amamiya's reminder, Umi led her father back and forth through the spirit's vicinity seven times. Finally, she concluded that her father was merely overworked and sleep-deprived—thankfully, he was not a player.
With that reassurance, the next steps became much simpler.
Umi's father treated the two to a leisurely tour of Sakurajima. By afternoon, Amamiya excused himself, explaining that he wanted to explore Kagoshima on his own.
The summer event copy required players to trigger it at a specific location. For the entire team to enter the event together, Chika and the others had to be present in person. Unlike Umi, who feared flying, Chika and others had chosen to fly, arriving at Kagoshima Airport around three or four in the afternoon.
This meant the next steps couldn't involve Umi's father.
"My dad and I still have a lot to catch up on. Go have fun for now," Umi said, waving goodbye. "We'll head back to Tokyo together tomorrow morning."
"…"
After parting ways with Umi, Amamiya made his way to Kagoshima Airport alone.
4 PM
As a plane landed on the tarmac, Amamiya soon spotted the arriving team.
Leading the group was Chika.
The lively girl from the Chaos faction sported a sunhat, wheeled a suitcase behind her, carried a small crossbody bag, and wore a blue-and-white floral dress—the quintessential tourist ensemble.
"Amamiya!"
Chika's eyes sparkled as she waved enthusiastically.
Beside her was the ever-composed young lady, empty-handed as usual. Clad in black, her graceful demeanor, silky black hair tied with a crimson ribbon, and her striking beauty turned heads as she passed. Many bystanders glanced back, only to sigh silently.
So beautiful... yet so flat.
Following her was Hayasaka, dressed in her trademark maid uniform and carrying a suitcase.
Two steps behind Hayasaka trailed Sajuna, with her distinctive pink hair.
What surprised Amamiya, however, was the presence of a familiar face—Komi, walking alongside Sajuna.
"Kagoshima, here we come!"
Chika was the first to reach Amamiya, lifting her sunhat to reveal a radiant smile. "Where's Umi-chan? Didn't she come with us?"
Amamiya replied, "Umi's spending time with her dad for now."
"Kaguya-chan, Mommy missed you so much!"
Shimizu's voice rang out as she gleefully floated toward Kaguya.
Kaguya's composure faltered instantly.
We saw each other at school yesterday—it's only been 24 hours! How could you possibly miss me this much?
Shimizu, however, wasn't deterred. "Last night, Amamiya bullied me," she complained pitifully.
"Bully you?"
Kaguya's gaze shifted toward Amamiya, her curiosity piqued.
"That's right!" Shimizu pouted. "Last night on the train, even though everyone was asleep, he wouldn't let me play with my phone!"
Kaguya's eyebrow twitched slightly as she retorted, "The Shinkansen has surveillance cameras—of course, you can't use your phone!"
Feigning ignorance, Amamiya turned to Kaguya. "By the way, where's Hanamori? Didn't she come with you?"
At the question, Hayasaka's expression remained calm, but her gaze briefly flicked toward Amamiya, her eyes betraying a hint of intrigue.
Kaguya raised her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "She mentioned being busy this morning but said she'd join us later when she's free."
Amamiya nodded and turned to the blonde maid standing beside Kaguya. "Hayasaka, long time no see."
Hayasaka, ever composed, responded with an apologetic tone, "I accompanied the young lady to meet you during Golden Week."
Her demeanor remained resolute, maintaining the professional distance expected under Kaguya's sharp gaze.
Next, Amamiya approached Sajuna and extended a hand. "Let me carry your backpack."
"No need." Sajuna turned away coolly. "It only has two sets of clothes. I can manage."
Leaning in slightly, Amamiya lowered his voice. "I knew Sajuna wouldn't leave me out in the cold."
Sajuna's expression remained stern and impassive, exuding disdain. "Get lost and stop talking to me."
"Yes, ma'am."
Finally, Amamiya turned to the reserved girl with long, straight black hair who had said little thus far.
"Thank you for coming all this way, Komi-san," Amamiya said gently.
Komi, clutching a notebook in her arms, hurriedly shook her head in response. "It wasn't hard," she wrote in the notebook, showing it to him.
Amamiya knew the notebook was a highly practical tool—strategic even when used effectively. Preparing for the team's upcoming battle naturally required someone with Komi's skills, so Kaguya had ensured she joined them.
Satisfied, Amamiya led the group out of the airport. "Are you all hungry? If you are, we can stop for a meal first."
"No, we're fine," Chika answered cheerfully. "We had lunch on the plane."
"Let's save the food for later. We should focus on triggering the dungeon first," Kaguya suggested.
Amamiya nodded. "Understood. Let's head to the port."
The group made their way to the port, where a ferry was docked at the pier. Amamiya retraced his earlier route with the girls, and as expected, they soon received the trigger notification for the dungeon, "Summer Returns."
With their objective achieved, the group relaxed, ready for casual activities.
"Should we check out Sakurajima for fun?" Chika suggested.
"It's better if we don't," Amamiya said, shaking his head. "It'll be awkward if we run into Umi and her dad."
"That's true…" Chika agreed thoughtfully. She crossed her arms, gazing at the serene, azure sea, before lighting up with another idea. "Why don't we go swimming at the beach?"
"Swimming?" Kaguya paused, instinctively covering her chest.
"It's been raining nonstop in Tokyo. I feel like I'm about to grow mold," Chika declared, placing her hands on her hips as if daring anyone to argue. "Since we're in Kagoshima, it'd be a waste not to go swimming."
Kaguya, however, was quick to object. "But I didn't bring a swimsuit…"
She had no desire to swim. None at all!
The thought of wearing a swimsuit in front of these big boob girls filled her with dread. She could already envision herself being subjected to a humiliating dimensionality reduction attack!