The surrounding scenery faded into muted shades of gray.
As they drew closer to the heart of the haunted house, a thick, eerie fog crept across the halls, blanketing everything in its ghostly embrace.
A slow, rhythmic thudding—like a heartbeat—echoed ominously through the mist.
Thump... thump... thump...
Hina Ebina's sharp eyes caught movement deep within the haze.
She tightened her grip around Nozomi's arm instinctively.
"...Is that the real thing? Ugh, it looks disgusting... I can actually see it," she muttered, more amazed than afraid.
Despite the terrifying atmosphere, she didn't seem scared at all. In fact, she almost looked excited.
Nozomi smiled faintly, explaining in a low voice, "It's because we've caught its attention. That's why it revealed its own domain."
"Domain?" Hina Ebina blinked up at him.
"Think of it like a magnetic field," Nozomi said casually. "An evil spirit's resentment can distort the surrounding magnetic field. When it notices a threat—or prey—it expands that field, making itself stronger."
Ebina tilted her head thoughtfully. "What would've happened if it hadn't noticed us?"
"If we hadn't been detected, we could've just walked away," Nozomi shrugged. "Maybe pay a small 'tribute' by leaking a little fear... and it would've let us go."
"But now?"
Nozomi's expression turned a shade colder.
"Now that it's locked onto us, it won't stop until it devours us."
The way he said it—so calm, so nonchalant—made Hina Ebina's heart skip a beat.
"And what are you going to do about it?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly—but not from fear.
She looked up at him with a mixture of awe and anticipation, like a fan waiting to see their hero step onto the battlefield.
Nozomi smirked.
"Simple."
With a snap of his fingers—
[Ding! Spirit Eye Special Attack Released!]
A pillar of pure white light descended from above, slicing through the fog like a divine sword.
It struck the very heart of the haunted house.
The gray, oppressive scenery dissolved instantly, colors rushing back into the world like a tidal wave.
Ebina stared in open-mouthed amazement.
"...It's... over?" she asked, blinking rapidly.
"Did you expect me to wrestle it for a few rounds or something?" Nozomi teased, ruffling her hair.
"Alright, let's not get hung up on that little guy. From here on, it's back to normal—just actors in costumes trying to scare us."
Ebina nodded dumbly, cheeks heating up until they glowed a soft pink.
Her heart thumped wildly.
He had dealt with a terrifying evil spirit—something out of a nightmare—without even breaking a sweat!
This guy... this guy is amazing!
In that moment, a decision solidified in Ebina's mind:
This thigh... I must cling to it for dear life!
Without a shred of hesitation, she tightened her hold on Nozomi's arm.
Nozomi chuckled softly and, without missing a beat, slid his hand around her slender waist again.
( Heh, a bargain's a bargain, ) he thought smugly.
( It'd be a crime not to enjoy it. )
—
After the haunted house adventure, the group finally exited the amusement park, feeling satisfied and full of laughter.
...Well, most of them, anyway.
Hayato Hayama and Kakeru Tobe looked like they had aged five years in a day.
Hayama's expression was particularly complicated.
( Was I just... cannon fodder today? ) he thought helplessly.
Throughout the entire trip, it had been Nozomi who got the casual touches, the teasing smiles, and the sweet "accidental" brushes of hands with Yumiko and Ebina.
Meanwhile, Hayato had been stuck sharing body heat with... Kakeru Tobe.
Embarrassing didn't even begin to cover it.
As for Tobe Kakeru himself...
He wore a miserable expression.
He knew.
Deep down, he knew he had embarrassed himself terribly.
Now, he didn't even dare look Ebina Hina in the eyes, terrified of seeing contempt staring back at him.
Surprisingly though, Ebina Hina was all smiles.
She continued laughing and chatting with Yumiko and the others, acting like nothing had happened at all.
( Ah... she's just keeping the peace, ) Hayama realized.
In truth, both Ebina and Hayama had no intention of breaking the delicate circle of their friendship.
They were high school students, after all—sometimes, maintaining surface harmony was more important than confronting harsh realities.
Time passed quickly.
As evening fell, they decided to cap off the day by heading to the theater for a late-night movie.
Following Hayama's arrangements, the seating was strategic:
Ebina sat beside Tobe Kakeru, Yumiko next to Ebina, and Nozomi took the seat beside Yumiko.
Hayama, very deliberately, placed himself at the outer edge next to Tobe Kakeru—far away from the girls.
( Phew, safe seating, ) he thought, relaxing slightly.
However—
Disaster struck again.
Not even ten minutes into the movie, disaster wore Tobe Kakeru's face.
The horror film, starring the ever-graceful Mai Sakurajima, wasted no time diving into chilling scenes.
The screen dimmed.
A sudden pale, ghostly face flashed across the theater screen.
"AAAHHH!!"
Tobe Kakeru's scream shattered the tense silence.
Heads turned. People stared.
But it wasn't just the scream—
Kakeru Tobe, in his panic, clutched onto Hayama's arm like a terrified child.
Hayama froze in horror.
( Seriously?! Ebina's right there! Go hug her! You like her! Why cling to me, you idiot?! )
Even the usually patient Hayato Hayama felt his jaw tighten in secondhand embarrassment.
Meanwhile, Ebina Hina, the supposed "damsel in distress," was calmly munching popcorn, her expression one of utter amusement.
Having seen a real spirit earlier today, the movie's petty scares were like watching a kids' cartoon in comparison.
The sudden flashes of pale ghosts, the eerie atmosphere, the shrieking soundtrack—none of it even made her flinch.
Instead, she leisurely savored the salty-sweet popcorn, thinking to herself:
( Who's the real child here? )
As she sneaked a glance at the trembling Tobe Kakeru clinging desperately to Hayama, a wicked glint flickered in her eyes.
...Wait, was Tobe even leaning his head toward Hayama's shoulder now?
( Oi, oi, are these two actually... you know? ) Ebina thought, struggling not to burst out laughing.
Hayato, sensing her gaze, stiffened.
( W-What's with that look?! ) he thought frantically. ( My sexual orientation is normal, alright?! )
But now, even he was starting to doubt.
( Hold on... is Tobe trying to court Ebina... or... me?! )
They had ridden the carousel together, explored the haunted house together, and now here they were—watching a horror movie, with Tobe Kakeru clinging to him like a scared girlfriend.
Hayato Hayama felt a wave of nausea roll through him.
Compared to Hayama's utter despair, the situation on Nozomi's side was a completely different world.
Yumiko Miura, usually proud and untouchable, was now holding tightly onto Nozomi's arm, her body trembling slightly.
Her face was flushed, her soft cheeks pressed against his shoulder, her head practically tucked into his chest for protection.
The delicate fragrance wafting from her hair made Nozomi's mood skyrocket.
On his other side, Yuigahama Yui wasn't doing any better.
The lively, pink-haired girl clung tightly to his other arm, her fluffy twin buns bouncing slightly whenever she shivered.
Her plump, soft chest was pressed tightly against him, her face beet-red.
( Huh? Why is she smiling while blushing? ) Nozomi thought with amusement.
It was as if Yui wasn't just scared... but also taking the chance to strategically cling to him.
Of course, Nozomi wasn't the type to question his blessings.
He had two beautiful girls hanging off him—breaking free would have been the act of a fool!
But simply sitting still?
Not his style.
Taking advantage of the cinema's dim lighting, Nozomi lowered his head slightly—and boldly brushed a kiss across Miura Yumiko's cherry-red lips.
The girl's body jolted in shock, her eyes widening to saucers.
She glanced nervously toward Yui, then shyly responded, her face turning an even deeper shade of crimson.
Victory!
—
When they finally exited the movie theater, the atmosphere was lively and sweet.
Miura Yumiko and Yuigahama Yui both wore secretive, excited smiles, their steps light and almost dancing.
Even Shiina Mahiru and Sayu exchanged knowing looks, chatting quietly among themselves.
In that moment, it was clear—
The movie itself hadn't mattered at all.
What truly mattered was who you watched it with.
Nozomi, basking in the sweet afterglow, felt a rare sense of bliss.
Meanwhile, poor Tobe Kakeru trudged behind, his shoulders slumped like a defeated soldier returning from war.
His face was still ghostly pale.
Clearly, he had been traumatized by the horror movie.
( Seriously, whose bright idea was it to pick a horror film?! )
Looking back, Tobe hadn't shown a shred of masculinity all day.
He had screamed louder than any of the girls, clung desperately to Hayama, and managed to humiliate himself thoroughly.
Hayato Hayama could only force a strained smile, patting Tobe's back awkwardly in an attempt to console him.
( Why? ) he thought bitterly. ( Why am I the one comforting a grown man while Nozomi's busy flirting with beautiful girls? )
Once again, Hayama couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy toward Nozomi's effortlessly blessed atmosphere.
He had no one but himself to blame, though.
After all, he had chosen to recognize Tobe as a friend.
As the "everyone's Hayama," he couldn't just abandon someone in need.
Still...
( God help me if I ever have to experience a day like this again. )
Putting Tobe's emotional wounds aside for now, there was something else that gnawed at him:
Nozomi's actions were way too bold.
Was he not worried about falling out with the girls?
And yet—
Miura Yumiko, Yuigahama Yui, Shiina Mahiru, Sayu... none of them seemed bothered.
In fact, they looked even happier.
( Why is the gap between people so insanely wide?! ) Hayama thought in despair.
Life really wasn't fair.