The dinner plates had been cleared and the conversation at the table slowly began to wind down. Laughter and chatter gave way to soft yawns and the occasional stretch as the residents of Yuragi-sou began retreating to their rooms.
But not the trio.
Back in their shared suite, Hajime sat near the window with his arms crossed, watching the quiet courtyard beyond. Alice had made herself tea while Anis leaned back on a cushion, hands behind her head.
"Alright," Hajime said, breaking the silence. "We need to talk."
Anisphia lifted a brow. "About?"
He looked at her. "About the fact that we all just sat through a meal with a literal ghost floating across the room, and not one of us blinked."
Alice took a sip of her tea before speaking calmly. "It's because we've seen worse."
"But they don't know that," Hajime replied.
Anisphia giggled. "To be fair, I nearly asked her where the ritual circle was."
Hajime shot her a look.
"What? I didn't!" she added quickly, grinning.
Alice placed her cup down. "We're too calm. We responded like professionals. And even though we played our cover story straight, they might've noticed."
"Especially Sagiri," Hajime muttered. "She's sharp. Trained."
"Yuuna too," Alice added softly. "She watches people with a kind of innocence… but she notices more than she lets on."
Anisphia waved a hand. "Okay, okay. So we dial down the instincts. Be a little more freaked out next time a ghost floats through the wall. Easy."
Hajime exhaled. "This place might look peaceful, but I get the feeling there's more going on than we see."
Alice nodded. "Yes, the only saving grace is that Yuragi-Sou is not giving a dangerous feeling but… a feeling of home."
The three fell silent again, letting the weight of that truth settle in.
Outside, the wind brushed gently through the courtyard garden.
Inside, three trailblazers reminded themselves to play the part.
And maybe—just maybe—they weren't the only ones pretending.
A soft knock came at the door.
Hajime was the first to stand, crossing the room with silent steps. He opened the sliding door to reveal Chitose, still in her yukata, a teapot in hand and her usual serene smile on her face.
"Hope I'm not interrupting anything serious," she said lightly. "I brought some fresh tea. Thought you might want to wind down a bit more."
"Thank you," Alice said, already standing to receive it. "Please, come in."
Chitose stepped inside, setting the pot down on the table between them and pouring a fresh round, taking a moment to serve each of them individually with a practiced, graceful rhythm. She handed Hajime his cup first with a gentle nod, then offered one to Alice with both hands. Finally, she passed the third to Anisphia, who accepted it with an eager smile and a quiet thanks.
"You've settled in well," she noted, then glanced at each of them with a knowing glint in her eyes. "Though I imagine you have questions."
Hajime hesitated. "A few."
Chitose sipped her tea before continuing. "Yuragi-sou attracts ... certain kind of tenants. Everyone here has something they'd rather not share. Something that sets them apart."
Anisphia tilted her head. "You mean... we're not the only weirdos in the building?"
Chitose laughed softly. "Far from it. Some are just better at hiding it than others. That's why no one pries. We don't ask unless it's offered. We trust that everyone has their reasons."
Alice's gaze narrowed just slightly. "You suspected us from the start."
"I don't need to know who you really are," Chitose said gently, her gaze flickering over each of them. Then, with a small smile, she added, "But I suppose it's only fair that I share a bit myself." She glanced out toward the darkened hallway, then smiled wistfully. "I'm not just the manager of Yuragi-sou. I'm a zashiki-warashi. A spirit guardian of hearth and home. I was born in this inn. Raised here. My kind brings luck to households, watches over the rooms and those within."
She looked at them gently, her usual light voice now layered with something older—steadier. "Despite how I act, I've lived far longer than I look. I'm not a fighter, and I don't meddle in conflict. But I've always been able to feel things—auras, emotions, spiritual threads. The kind of presence people carry."
Anisphia blinked, eyes wide before letting out a stunned laugh. "Wait—so you've been seeing our sparkles this whole time? Like… every time I geek out or go sparkle-mode?"
Chitose chuckled. "Especially then."
Alice's expression shifted, thoughtful. "And you didn't press us because… you knew we meant no harm."
Chitose nodded once. "Your aura told me everything I needed. You're different, yes—but kind." she chuckled softly. "Something like that. You, Anis—your mana flares in cheerful bursts. Alice's spiritual energy is tightly woven, honed and disciplined. And Hajime…"
Her gaze softened slightly as she looked at him. "Even when you're trying to suppress it, your presence hums with weight. It feels divine and yet not completely like one."
Hajime stiffened slightly. "I've been keeping it in check."
Alice gave a tiny, knowing sigh. "Maybe it's because of who you are, Hajime. Even when you suppress it, it leaks through. Some things can't be hidden so easily."
Chitose nodded. "That's why I said what I did. You don't need to worry. The tenants here, each of us—we carry things too. Powers, pasts, burdens. We respect the silence, because we each have our own."
She stood, gathering the now-empty teacups. "Rest easy. Yuragi-sou isn't the kind of place that exposes secrets—it's where people go to breathe."
With that, she left as quietly as she arrived.
The trio remained in thoughtful silence, the warmth of the tea lingering longer than the words she left behind.
Then, Anisphia softly broke the quiet. "You know… I wouldn't mind staying here for a while. It's not just the food or the bath—it feels... safe. Like this place lets you exhale."
Hajime didn't respond right away. He looked toward the garden, where the lanterns swayed gently in the night breeze. "I get it. It's rare to find a place that accepts your silence without demanding explanation."
Alice nodded slowly. "A still point. In a world that keeps moving."
Hajime turned back toward them. "Then maybe we should make it official. Establish the Anchor Point here. A permanent base. Just in case."
Anisphia blinked, then grinned. "You mean this cozy ghost inn gets to be our strategic hideaway? I'm all in."
Alice allowed herself a soft smile. "It's fitting. A place between worlds… for those between roles."
------
The next morning arrived with soft rays of light pouring through the paper windows and the faint clatter of breakfast being prepared in the kitchen.
The trio, now more relaxed but still cautious, entered the dining room together. The aroma of tamagoyaki, warm rice porridge with pickled plum, and freshly brewed barley tea greeted them, along with the warm voices of residents already gathered.
Sagiri, already seated and dressed neatly in her Kuoh Academy uniform, glanced up as they walked in.
She looked up from her tray and greeted them with a polite nod. "Good morning. You seem more settled today."
After the trio had taken their seats and exchanged light greetings with the rest of the residents, Sagiri glanced at them again, this time more directly.
"So," she said, setting down her chopsticks, "are you three heading to the academy today? to complete your registration I mean."
Hajime nodded with his usual stoicism. "Yeah. We'll head there after breakfast."
Alice gave a polite bow. "Thank you for the reminder."
Anisphia, still brushing off a few crumbs from her shoulder, added cheerfully, "Can't miss our debut into local school life! I plan on dazzling the homeroom!"
Sagiri narrowed her eyes ever so slightly. "Just don't make a scene."
Anisphia winked. "No promises."
Despite her stoic expression, Sagiri's lips twitched—almost imperceptibly—before she returned to her meal.