Perspective: Hachiman
"However, when he turned around... no one was there. The moment he sighed in relief and looked forward... Whoosh! A ghost came rushing at him from the exact direction he had just come from, moving at incredible speed!" Arrow declared, her voice dropping to a whisper before shouting the climax.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
Thump!
Rice screamed and buried her face in my chest.
"My, my," Ardan murmured, hand on her cheek. "That was quite the jump scare..."
"So? So!?" C.B. leaned in, eyes sparkling. "What happened next!?"
"After that, there were no other strange occurrences, so the man decided to hurry home," Arrow continued smoothly. "However, a few days later, the man suddenly vanished without a trace. Only a single letter was left behind. And written inside the letter were the words: 'You are next.'"
"Eeeeeeeeeek!!!"
Squeeze!!
Rice tightened her grip.
"Kh..." Air Groove flinched.
"Oh my..." Ardan nodded thoughtfully. "I see. It was a letter to designate the next person. What a dutiful individual."
"I don't think that's the point here, is it?" C.B. retorted.
"Still, this is surprising," I noted. "Arrow, you have a lot of spiritual stories in your repertoire."
"I have a few," Arrow shrugged. "Though, compared to Cafe, I think I have very little."
"No, you can't compare yourself to Cafe... She's practically a mass of spiritual energy herself."
Having finished dinner and bathing, we found ourselves with nothing to do and a surplus of boredom, which led to this ghost story session. That said, Arrow has been doing most of the talking. And the only one truly terrified is Rice. Actually, looking closely, Air Groove has her ears pinned back flat against her head, so she must be at least a little scared.
Ardan is listening with sparkling eyes, and C.B.'s reaction is just standard curiosity. I'm listening too, of course, but not enough to react dramatically.
"Doesn't Trainer have any?" Arrow asked. "Scary stories, I mean."
"I don't mind telling one, but are we still doing this?" I checked the time. "We've been at this for about an hour. Isn't it about time to wrap it up?"
"Eh? You have one?" C.B. grinned. "Then tell us! Hachiman's story can be the last one!"
"H-Hey..." Air Groove stammered. "It is almost time for lights out. We really should be sleeping."
"Y-Yeah..." Rice trembled. "L-Let's sleep? Please?"
"Oh, it certainly is that time," Ardan noted. "However... I am quite curious to hear your story, Older Brother."
"...Alright, mine is the last one, got it?" I sighed. "I'm starting. Are you ready?"
"Can't wait~♪" C.B. chirped.
Several Minutes Later
"After that, the four people who entered the mansion went missing, and to this day, they have never been found... And to add to that, not a single person who has entered that mansion since has ever been seen again."
"..." Tremble, tremble.
"..." Clench.
"That was... genuinely frightening," Ardan whispered.
"Yeah... me too..." C.B. murmured, her usual energy dampened.
"I kind of... lost the words to speak," Arrow admitted.
"I mean, look at Rice," C.B. pointed out. "She's stuck to Hachiman and won't let go. She's shaking like a leaf."
Yeah, she is hugging me, and I can feel every vibration. Under normal circumstances, Rice would absolutely never hug me of her own accord, but she's been like this ever since the ghost stories started.
"Right, that wraps it up," I declared. "Go to sleep quickly, alright?"
Several Minutes Later – Bedroom
"Well then, time to sleep..."
I lay down, staring at the ceiling. Is Rice okay, though? Going straight to bed after those ghost stories is rough. Knowing Rice, I have a feeling she might try to sleep in the same room as someone else... but since everyone knows she's bad with ghosts after tonight, I doubt anyone would turn her away.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Hm? Who is it?"
Click.
The door opened slowly.
"B-Big Brother..."
Oh...
To think she would come to my room. Did she not go to the other older sisters? Ardan is practically a living mass of big-sister energy.
"...What's wrong?" I asked, sitting up.
"Umm..." Rice fidgeted, eyes tearing up. "I got scared because of the stories earlier... is it okay if I sleep with you?"
"Did you not go to the other members' rooms?"
"Umm, well, I thought it would be bad if I woke them up..."
(Eh, so it's fine if it's me?)
"But is it really okay to sleep with me?"
"If it's Big Brother, it's safe."
...It's no use. I can't turn that down.
"Alright," I lifted the cover. "Get in."
"U-Un... Thank you, Big Brother."
"Was it really that scary? My bad," I said, feeling a twinge of guilt.
"N-No. I'm okay now..."
If she were okay, she wouldn't be in my bedroom...
After that, Rice crawled into my futon to sleep. I expected to spend some time awake, unable to sleep due to the situation, but within minutes, I heard the soft rhythm of breathing.
Which means... she fell asleep normally.
"She was terrified a moment ago, yet she passes out the instant she gets in my futon..." I muttered, looking at her peaceful face. "Ignoring my worry and making such a relieved face... Well, if she can sleep, that's good."
Knock, knock, knock.
"...Eh?"
Click.
The door opened again.
"...Air Groove?"
"Sorry. Were you asleep?" she whispered.
"No, I was up, so it's no problem. What's wrong?"
"...I will speak honestly," she said, looking away, her face flushing red. "I am not very good with ghost stories. I couldn't fall asleep after that last one... So, um... would it be alright if I slept here too? ///"
"Ah~... I don't mind, but I have a prior guest."
"...By any chance, is it Rice?"
"Correct."
"I don't mind. Is it acceptable?"
"...Yeah, alright."
It's impossible. If she looks at me with that anxious face, the option to refuse automatically deletes itself from my brain.
"...I knew being near you would be reassuring," Air Groove sighed in relief as she settled in. "Sorry, but may I come a little closer?"
"...Do whatever you want."
"Thank you."
Beside me, Rice mumbled in her sleep.
"Nnnuu~ Big Brother... ehehe~♪"
Rice, where did your fear go?
And the next morning, I had to explain the situation to C.B., who entered the room for some reason.
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