Chapter 21: Midnight Mayhem & Misplaced Confessions
The campus of Aether High glowed under the midnight moon, bathed in silver light and simmering with the kind of anxiety that only happens when you know you've messed up at least twice too many times. Kaito Nakamura sat on the edge of a floating bench in the courtyard, twisting the hem of his glitter‑covered mask and wondering if the phrase *"can't catch a break"* applied to dead people. Beside him, Jin Lee hovered, feet not quite reaching the ground, one hand tugging at his cloak as if it could protect him from embarrassment.
"Are you ready?" Jin asked softly, eyes flickering with both fear and some strange excitement.
Kaito let out a low groan. "Ready is a relative term. I mean, I tripped into Alexander's face. Twice. I got covered in dessert. I made the ghost‑bunny projection. And now… now we have to team up. As a duo. At midnight. In the Under‑Wing." He shuddered. "Can you hear the applause from my demise already?"
Jin gave him a shaky nod. "Yes. And no falling. No more unintended lip collisions."
Kaito nodded. "Agreed. Pinky promise."
They linked pinkies and Kaito nearly collapsed. "Beautiful," Jin whispered.
Below them, hidden corridors stretched like labyrinths. The door to the Under‑Wing groaned open as they stepped inside. Torchlight flickered against wet stone. Whispers echoed. Shadows skittered across walls and vanished. Kaito whimpered.
"Too late to run," he muttered.
Jin placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We're together."
A subtle warmth traveled through Kaito's chest. Brotherly. Maybe something more in the future. For now? He'd just take *not dying*.
They plunged into the Hall of Whispers, where every secret, thought, and memory manifested as ghostly syllables around them. Kaito heard:
> *He will embarrass us again.*
> *She loves him but he doesn't know.*
> *The seal cracks. The afterlife trembles.*
Kaito pressed his hands over his ears. "Stop talking!"
Jin winced. "They're not kidding."
Suddenly, a hidden skeleton door sprung open and they tumbled into a chamber filled with swirling runes. The sealed door loomed ahead, etched with the broken‑eye sigil they'd seen in dreams. Alexander appeared behind them without a sound. "Time is shorter than you think."
Kaito gasped. "You followed us."
Alexander's expression didn't waver. "I made sure you didn't explode the school again."
Kaito scowled. "Thanks."
Jin watched Alexander, concern in his eyes. David, who had followed behind, cleared his throat dramatically. "I brought desserts. We might need emergency snacks."
Alexander glared. "Not your time."
David rolled his eyes. "You just need to drink the pudding, bro."
Kaito groaned. "This doesn't help."
They reached the sealed door. Chains rattled. The door's sigil pulsed red. The room seemed to breathe. Kaito swallowed. "How do we break it?"
Jin held up the map they'd found earlier. "We chant the Oath of Echoes, then channel our combined energy to seal the veiled threat. Or something like that."
Kaito squinted. "Our combined energy? You mean *us together*?"
Jin nodded. "Yes. You and me."
Kaito's heart lurched. "Side‑by‑side? On purpose? With attention?"
Jin gave a half smile. "We've done worse."
Kaito didn't feel better.
Alexander nodded. "Do it."
David hovered behind them, waving his staff. "And then we celebrate with pudding."
Kaito looked at Jin. "Let's do it."
Jin snorted, shaking his head. "Only you would announce your own funeral ahead of time."
Kaito kicked a pebble that hovered mid‑air and landed with a *plop*. "Thanks. Very supportive."
Far across the courtyard, the masked gala lights flickered on. Students in shimmering robes, floating lanterns, spectral fireworks — yes, the Masquerade had spilled into an impromptu after‑party on the terrace. Alexander Brown stood near the fountain, arms crossed, mask in place, cape trailing in the wind. His gaze roamed, but it found Kaito and Jin and never left them. Kaito shivered under the weight of that stare. Was it concern? Interest? Or irritation in disguise? He wasn't sure.
At the same time, David Louise bounded into view, red cape swirling like a storm. He paused when his eyes landed on the trio. Jin and Kaito skipped off toward the stairwell; Alexander watched them; David frowned. The kind of frown that screamed *jealousy* five major wards away. He flipped his hair dramatically and marched after them, his staff tapping the floor in rhythm with his heart.
Kaito took a deep breath, gaze fixed ahead. "Okay. Under‑Wing. We go down the stairwell, we pass the Hall of Whispers, we find the sealed door, we break the seal. Got it."
They started chanting, voices trembling. The sigil glowed brighter. Chains snapped. A wind whipped through the room. The seal cracked wider. A portal of dark energy formed.
Suddenly, White Louise burst in with the Gold twins. "Too slow!" she hissed, raising a wand. "I'm doing this myself."
Mara grinned. "Go ahead. I'm filming."
Clare rolled her eyes. "You'll regret it."
A duel erupted: White's wand versus Alexander's blade. Sparks flew. Kaito and Jin stood side by side, backs touching, their combined energy forming a pale blue shield. Chaotic laughter echoed as the seal pulsed. The portal threatened to burst.
Kaito's vision blurred. One hand was on Jin's back. The other… his fingers brushed Alexander's elbow. His face flamed. "I'm glowing," he muttered.
Jin squeezed his hand. "We're okay."
And that *felt* like something.
Alexander struck the final blow, the portal collapsed, the seal re‑energized with a thunderous crack. The afterlife trembled. The doors of the Under‑Wing burst open.
Kaito collapsed, Jin caught him. David cheered, twirling his staff. White Louise muttered into her wand. Alexander crouched beside them, his hand brushing Kaito's hair before he pulled back.
"Don't faint," Alexander said quietly.
Kaito stared up. "I won't—this time."
Jin blinked. "We did it."
Kaito breathed deep, eyes closed. He felt safe. He felt messy. He felt… something more. He looked at Jin beside him and Alexander standing protectively close. David cheering loudly. The chaos was real. The bond was real. And the night? Only just beginning.
To be continued