"It is said that there was once a very gloomy guest who stayed at this hot spring inn, and he checked into room number seven in the main building."
"That's right. Our rooms are thirteen and fourteen, which means that guest room is right across from the window."
"And that gloomy guest asked for nothing since he moved in. He didn't need meals prepared for him, and he didn't allow anyone to approach his room."
"Although the guest acted strangely, since he had paid the deposit, the innkeeper didn't bother him."
"But on the third night of his stay, a scream was heard from all the rooms in the main building. When people opened the door to room seven, they saw a figure hanging there, swaying back and forth."
"Later, people said that he was cursed by the Abyss Pool and couldn't bear the pressure, so he hanged himself."
"After that, many people who stayed in room seven said they felt something in the room, and it was particularly oppressive."
Under the dim yellow light of the small lamp Fujiwara Chika had brought herself, the other three girls sat on the bed intently, listening to the story Fujiwara Chika told.
Chitanda showed a curious expression. "Where did you hear this story, Fujiwara-san?"
"Hehe, the campus forum."
Uchiha Ryo nodded. "OK, it can be judged as fake."
Chitanda Eru opened the curtains. "We're in room fourteen, so opposite is number seven."
Yukino looked at Uchiha Ryo. "This is just a story made up by bored students.... And why are you staying in the girls' room?"
Uchiha Ryo ignored Yukino's scrutinizing gaze. "Didn't we agree to tell ghost stories tonight? I came over because I was worried you'd be scared."
Yukino: "It's because you keep staying in the room that we're scared!"
Fujiwara Chika pointed at Uchiha Ryo. "Then it's your turn to tell one, Uchiha-kun. After you're done, you can go back to sleep."
"I'm not good at telling ghost stories. Uh.... the midterms are coming up soon. Does that count?"
Fujiwara Chika's expression froze. "Don't... don't talk about that! I forgot to review again...."
Chitanda sat next to Fujiwara Chika and patted her head. "It's okay. Yukino and I can help you study!"
Fujiwara Chika pouted. "We're out having fun, don't bring up such mood-killing topics! Uchiha-kun, please tell another one."
In the room, the top student in the year smiled. The fifth and sixth ranked students simply couldn't understand the feelings of Fujiwara Chika, who ranked around one hundred.
"Forget it, I'm going back."
Uchiha Ryo got up and returned to his room. He really wasn't good at telling ghost stories. But would telling the story of what Natsume encountered as a child count?
Thinking about it, if Natsume wrote an autobiography, it would probably become popular as a novel.
Back in his room, Uchiha Ryo looked out the window. An agile figure appeared below the main building of the inn. It was the little fox he had met in the hot spring.
Just as Uchiha Ryo was feeling a little curious, another person walked out from the main entrance of the inn. Seeing the person, the little fox immediately ran away.
Uchiha Ryo activated his Sharingan. The person leaving the hot spring inn.... was the inn's proprietress, Hinatsuru Akina.
Why was Ai-chan's mother going out in the middle of the night? And she wasn't heading towards the city streets, but into the mountains.
Although Shuchiin's back mountain was basically open and shouldn't have wild beasts, there were plenty of mountain spirits and monsters like the little fox.
Opening the window, Uchiha Ryo jumped directly from the second floor and chose to follow quietly.
In the silent night, Uchiha Ryo followed a beautiful young woman through the dim woods. Please don't misunderstand, he was just worried that Ai-chan's mother might be in danger.
However, Uchiha Ryo wasn't the only one following Hinatsuru Akina. There was also a little fox.
"Little fox, explain. What is Proprietress Hinatsuru doing out in the middle of the night?"
Uchiha Ryo circled around to Maki Kozune's side, then looked at Hinatsuru Akina, who was going deeper into the woods.
The little fox sighed. "This human often comes to find Lord Hotaru. But ordinary people can't see Lord Hotaru's spirit body at all."
"I originally wanted to help pass on a message for Lord Hotaru, but Lord Hotaru said that she is different from us youkai who want to enter the world, and cannot form bonds with humans."
Uchiha Ryo: "Cannot form bonds. Why?"
The little fox shook his head. You have to ask Lord Hotaru that. I'm not very clear either. After all, like my brother and sister, I am a youkai preparing to enter the world.
Late at night by the pond, this was the legendary Abyss Pool of Hinatsuru Inn. But the so-called Abyss Pool was just a habitat for fireflies.
Hinatsuru Akina spread a blanket on the ground and sat down quietly, silently watching the fireflies dancing by the pond.
What was confusing was that Hinatsuru Akina was holding a golden yukata in her hands. And that clean yukata was placed in the water to soak.
What is she doing.... washing clothes? Did she come to the pond in the mountains just to wash clothes?
Uchiha Ryo stood up and walked straight over. He didn't need to hide anything. Instead of investigating secretly, it was better to ask directly.
Hearing footsteps, Hinatsuru Akina was obviously surprised that someone would come over.
"You're that male student from Shuchiin. Why aren't you resting in your room? Did you also come to admire the fireflies?"
"Sort of.... But what are you doing here, Auntie Hinatsuru?"
Uchiha Ryo's gaze fell beside Hinatsuru Akina. Sitting on the blanket was a being invisible to ordinary people.
A woman with long golden hair was looking over curiously.
Hinatsuru Akina smiled. "I just want to return the clothes I borrowed back then to her."
Return clothes? Before returning clothes, you have to throw them in the water to soak.... Hinatsuru Akina obviously saw Uchiha Ryo's lack of understanding, so she could only sigh helplessly and say.
"Because only when the clothes were soaked would she jump out and scold me.... But after so many years, she hasn't appeared again."
Uchiha Ryo shifted his gaze from the blonde beauty to Hinatsuru Akina in front of him.
"Who..... is she?"
Hinatsuru Akina looked down at the soaked golden yukata in her hand.
"She was my benefactor and friend. When I was very little, she often sat here with me, watching the fireflies dancing in the sky."
With that, Hinatsuru Akina stood up and put away the blanket.
"Whenever I feel bored, I come here to take a look. But it's getting late. Shall we go back together?"
Uchiha Ryo shook his head. "You go back first, Auntie Hinatsuru. I want to admire these fireflies a bit longer."
Hinatsuru Akina walked past Uchiha Ryo, then suddenly stopped.
"It's fine to look at the fireflies, but I hope you don't harm those little creatures.... Fireflies have short lives. I don't want human interference to deviate them from their original fate."
"Of course... I just want to admire this beautiful scenery that is rarely seen."
Hinatsuru Akina left, and Uchiha Ryo walked towards the blonde woman.
"Excuse me, you must be Lord Hotaru, right?"
The blonde woman sitting there turned her head. "You... are different from ordinary people. You can see me."
"Of course."
Uchiha Ryo came closer and looked at the Milky Way-like scenery on the lake composed of fireflies with Hotaru.
"That Auntie Hinatsuru just now.... was talking about you, right?"
Hotaru nodded. "Mhm, she is also my benefactor..... and friend."