Bang.
A soft fragrance brushed against Amamiya Natsuki's arms.
The dizziness from shifting between worlds made him instinctively hug the girl in his arms.
"Hey, Kaguya-chan?!" Fujiwara Chika's surprised cry echoed immediately.
Then came Rikka Takanashi's excited voice: "Big, big transformation!"
Just moments ago, Amamiya Natsuki had vanished. While the two girls anxiously searched for him, suddenly he appeared in the ward—holding Shinomiya Kaguya—with no warning at all. It was nothing short of a miracle.
"Kaguya-chan, are you okay?" Fujiwara rushed forward, concern lacing her tone. "We searched the whole room and didn't find you. How did you suddenly appear?"
"Fujiwara..." Kaguya bit her lower lip, pearly teeth visible, eyes shimmering with tears.
After being trapped and imitated by the mirror ghost in the mirror world, it was no wonder she looked panicked and scared. Now seeing Fujiwara—idiot though she might be—felt like a solid lifeline.
"Now's not the time to chat." Amamiya Natsuki quickly stepped forward, placing the mirror carefully back on the table. "We should leave immediately."
The mirror ghost was weird — not even as cute as his own Miss Sadako!
He pushed open the door and stepped into the corridor.
But the corridor had grown dark again, shadows creeping closer.
Natsuki led the three girls, intending to return to Fujiwara's ward. But upon opening the door, a new vengeful spirit awaited them inside.
"Excuse me."
Natsuki acted swiftly, closing the door and retreating to his ward with the girls.
Bang.
The door shut tight.
In the dim, eerie light, Natsuki finally relaxed after spotting the black-and-white TV in the corner.
Miss Sadako of Himura Dairy was not scary at all.
"Natsuki-san~" Fujiwara Chika placed her hands behind her back, leaned forward with a teasing smile. "How long are you going to hold Kaguya-chan's hand like that?"
"Um?" Natsuki looked down and realized he was still holding Shinomiya Kaguya's hand.
Wait, no — it's not me holding her — she's the one gripping me tight.
He'd forgotten to let go. Guess he really was scared.
Kaguya quietly loosened her grip, calm again, though a faint blush dusted her ears.
She changed the subject: "I was in the ward just now... but it was a ward inside the mirror."
Like everyone else after entering the game, Kaguya appeared alone in the ward. But she was extremely unlucky.
The corridor outside was swallowed in darkness—no escape.
She cautiously searched the room, then stood alone, pondering how to clear the game safely.
Only when she saw the person in the mirror smiling at her did she realize it was too late.
She was dragged into the mirror world by the mirror ghost.
Helplessly, she watched the ghost gradually take on her appearance — until they were indistinguishable.
Thinking about it still sends chills down her spine.
"No wonder Kaguya-chan's eyes were full of tears. She must have been super scared, right?" Fujiwara gently stroked Kaguya's head, soothing her softly.
"I didn't cry," Kaguya denied.
"You're lying. I saw it."
"What did you see?" Kaguya glanced up with a small smile.
"I'm sorry, I was wrong. Please forgive me," Fujiwara knelt sincerely, then turned to Natsuki. "Natsuki-san, how did you finally recognize Kaguya-chan?"
Kaguya pursed her lips and glanced at Natsuki—she was curious too.
In the mirror world, the ghost's imitation was perfect—appearance, voice, memory, even personality. Even Hayasaka or Fujiwara, closest to her, might not have noticed.
So why could Natsuki tell?
"The eyes," Natsuki said, pointing to his own.
"Mirror ghosts can only imitate what's on the surface. They can't mimic instincts Kaguya-san herself isn't aware of."
"What instincts?"
Kaguya raised her eyebrows, more intrigued.
"When we did the task [Opening Eyes to the Sun] days ago, I noticed that when we looked at each other, your pupils would unconsciously dilate."
"And just now, in the mirror world, I stared into the other Kaguya's eyes. Though hers were tearful and helpless, her pupils didn't change size at all."
…
Kaguya bit her lower lip, activating [Kaguya's Contempt].
Pitiful, weak, helpless?
No one could stay expressionless with those feelings!
"Ah, I see!" Rikka suddenly raised her hand.
Everyone looked at her.
Her hair trembled slightly as she whispered, "I saw on TV that when a girl sees a boy she likes, her pupils get bigger."
"Eh?" Fujiwara's eyes sparkled as she rushed over. "Kaguya-chan likes Natsuki-san?"
"...Impossible."
Kaguya crossed her arms, tightening her pretty face and firmly denying it.
That heart-fluttering feeling is just the suspension bridge effect. Besides, there's no scientific proof that "liking" actually exists.
"Natsuki-san, what do you say?" Fujiwara clasped her hands, burning with gossip.
Natsuki glanced over Fujiwara's shoulder—and then behind her.
"Calm down. Don't get nervous. Listen."
"Huh?"
Fujiwara froze, then noticed Kaguya and Rikka also looking behind her.
Suddenly, a Miss Sadako appeared.
Bloodstained white dress, long black hair covering her entire face.
"Ahhh!"
Fujiwara's scream pierced the ward.
She bolted into Natsuki's arms, pressing her soft hands against his face, nearly smothering him.
"I told you not to be nervous," Natsuki muttered, pushing the clingy Fujiwara away with a disdainful look. "She's my roommate here — the shy Miss Sadako. She's easy to get along with."
When Natsuki entered the ward, he hadn't noticed Miss Sadako.
Halfway through the conversation, she quietly crawled out from the TV.
Her movements were silent, the ward dimly lit.
By the time Natsuki spotted her, she was right behind Fujiwara — not attacking, but more like eavesdropping with perked-up ears.
Even vengeful spirits can gossip.
When spotted, Miss Sadako's black hair trembled as she turned to retreat back into the TV, not wanting to mess up her middle-parted hair.
"Don't hide! You're the ward's owner," Natsuki called out. "Ms. Sadako, come out and receive the guests… no, entertain the guests."
Hearing this, Miss Sadako panicked and froze—unable to re-enter the TV.
"Um..." Fujiwara blinked, instinctively wrapping her arms around Natsuki's neck. "Is she stuck?"