Written by: Nishioka Maiko (Happy Elements KK)
Timeline: Summer
¶Chapter 1
> In front of the faculty office
Mao: "Excuse us, then~
Well, now we’re done returning the dance room key to the faculty. Let’s go home, Subaru."
Subaru: “Geez, I can’t believe we had to stay out so late training for the sports festival with Chii-chan-senpai.”
Mao: “Whoa, it’s gotten pitch-black outside, huh?”
Subaru: “Because we were training for like three competitions at once: ball-toss, scavenger hunt, and bread-snatching race. Feels like my entire body’s screaming.”
Mao: “Same. Training this hard right after summer break is really trying, isn’t it~?”
Subaru: "What was that scavenger hunt training about even? Won’t it all depend on the list we get on the competition?
What are we practicing if we don’t even know what we’ll get? I don’t get it~!"
Mao: “Yeah, and the captain came up with the most troublesome items. What was he expecting us to bring when he wrote ‘world peace’?”
Subaru: "I couldn’t help nodding when Takamin said ‘We’ll have world peace if you disappear, Morisawa-senpai.’
That’s peace, alright."
Mao: "Don’t say that. Captain’s always trying his best ― he’s just a little over-the-top.
But it was nice that we got to eat bread while training for the bread-snatching race♪ After school, your stomach just feels sorta empty, y’know?"
Subaru: "Eeh~? I got sick of eating anpan!
Okay! I’m gonna ask Chii-chan-senpai to add jam bun and melonpan to the variation tomorrow!"
Mao: “C’mon now, don’t sponge off of the captain~”
Subaru: “…Nn?”
Mao: “What’s wrong, Subaru?”
Subaru: “Did you hear voices just now?”
Mao: “Ehh? Don’t say spooky things. You think anyone else would stick around at this hour…?”
Subaru: “Huh? Wait, Sally, are you actually bad with scary stuff?”
Mao: "Nah, I’m pretty fine with it in manga and movies. I’m just reminded of that scary story the captain was recounting.
Doesn’t it sound realistic and creepy, coming from someone you know?"
Subaru: "Aah, that story!
The one where Chii-chan-senpai saw Anzu in the school at night, and talked to her but she vanished without warning?"
Mao: “The captain ― he was trying to hide it, but he was really creeped out, wasn’t he~?”
Subaru: “Eh, that was hiding it!? But it was so obvious that he was scared.”
Mao: "Yeah, but I think he was under the impression that he hid it well.
Anyway. It just sounded all the creepier to me that he told the story looking all scared, so――
Eek!? Is that a shadow there at that turn!?"
Subaru: “Wah~! It’s Anzu! Yahhoo, yahhoo☆”
Kouga: “What, so it’s you guys. Akehoshi and Forehead.”
Adonis: “So you two are still at school too.”
Subaru: “And Gami-san and Occhan! Fancy seeing the three of you at this hour☆ What’s going on, guys?”
Kouga: "Well, y’know how UNDEAD’s been having a bunch of live shows lately?
So we were practicing even more intensely than usual. We bumped into Anzu just as we were about to go home."
Adonis: “Anzu said she came to get something she’d forgotten in the classroom. We are accompanying her because it’s late.”
Subaru: “Oh~ Then we’ll tag along with you too, Anzu! ‘In travelling, companion; in life, compassion’, isn’t it?♪”
Mao: “Not exactly a ‘travel’ considering the distance, but they’ve started to turn off the lights in some places, so it’s probably better that we all stick together.”
Adonis: “I can see well in the dark, but it’s true that it is safer with more people. Having you all around will be reassuring.”
Kouga: "Then, let’s just get moving.
Tch, man, it’s so much more annoying with a crowd. Hey Anzu. Don’t be forgettin’ your stuff! Are you a dolt?
‘I’m sorry’? Well, can’t do nothin’ about what already passed. Just don’t repeat it."
Mao: "That’s what Kouga said, but――
What he actually means is ‘The night streets are full of dangers, so a girl shouldn’t wander without company’. Don’t sweat it, Anzu."
Kouga: “Wrong! Forehead, stop pulling shit out of nowhere!”
Subaru: “There you go, you’re so not honest with yourself, Gami-san~♪ Poke, poke♪”
Adonis: “True. Oogami has a kind heart, but it is hard to see because he is not honest.”
Kouga: “Adonis, you bastard! And Akehoshi, stop poking my side!”
Subaru: “But Gami-san, you almost don’t say it anymore these days, right? That ‘Are we friends? We’re not, right?’ stuff. You used to say that everytime.”
Adonis: “That must mean he considers us friends now.”
Kouga: "Uuuugh! Gaaaaaaah! Stop getting the wrong idea!
I’m a proud, lone wolf! I’m not gonna get touchy-feely with anyone!"
.
> Hallway
Kouga: “There ya go, Anzu. We’re in front of the classroom. Go get your stuff.”
Subaru: “Stay safe, Anzu☆ We’ll wait out here!”
< Ten minutes later >
Subaru: "…
Say, Anzu ― isn’t she taking her time in the classroom? Does picking up something you forgot usually take this long?"
Adonis: “I guess… she is taking a little long.”
Kouga: “Haa? Isn’t she just having trouble searchin’ for her stuff?”
Mao: "…You don’t think she vanished on us, do you?
She can’t be the ghost Anzu that the captain was talking about…?"
Subaru: “Eeh~? You don’t say~!”
¶Chapter 2
Subaru: “Ah, there she is! You’re so late, Anzu~ We were worried.”
Adonis: “I see. You couldn’t find what you forgot where you thought you left it, and you had trouble looking. I’m glad you found it in the end.”
Mao: “Hey, you’re the real Anzu, right?”
Subaru: “Gee, Sally. You made Anzu confused with your question.”
Kouga: “Oi, what’re you guys going on about? What’s the whole deal about Anzu vanishing?”
Subaru: "Well, Chii-chan-senpai said he ran into Anzu in the kitchen of the garden terrace one night, but then Anzu vanished on him.
And suddenly too, like a ghost.
That’s why we thought that Anzu might’ve vanished in the classroom."
Kouga: "Sounds dumb. You sure he wasn’t just sleepy and seeing things?
The vampire bastard often mistook me for his lil’ brother when he’s half-asleep too, draggin’ me into his coffin and stuff."
Mao: "Ahaha, those two brothers are horrid sleepers, huh~
Anyway, don’t make such a difficult face, Anzu.
I’m sure you’re curious about a ghost who looked exactly like you, but it really might’ve been the captain seeing things.
I shouldn’t be saying that since I doubted you? Okay, so I was wrong. I won’t doubt you again, I swear."
Subaru: “Gami-san and Occhan don’t seem to get scared by ghost stories, huh?”
Kouga: “Nope. One of the twins from the light music club… Hinata, he tries scaring me with ghost stories all the time, but it’s all fiction anyways.”
Adonis: “I am concerned that physical attack may not work in case of ghostly encounters, but… I am not afraid of ghosts themselves.”
Mao: “Uh, don’t try to get into fight with ghosts.”
Subaru: “Ahaha☆ You’re hilarious, Occhan♪”
Kouga: “But it was in the garden terrace that the Anzu ghost popped up? Today, Hinata was sayin’ about a rumor of fireball sighting in the garden terrace, too.”
Adonis: “I have heard of the fireball rumor as well. It seems to be part of the ‘Seven Mysteries of Yumenosaki Academy’. A classmate was talking about it.”
Subaru: “Eh? What’s that, what’s that? Lemme in!”
Kouga: "So, there’s this student who saw a fireball floating around the garden terrace at night.
But then the fireball suddenly came flying at him at great speed.
He closed his eyes before it hit, but even though he waited, he couldn’t feel any heat.
He opened his eyes and the fireball was already gone.
Though he got out unharmed, the hem of his uniform had a mysterious burned mark, they say."
Mao: “O-Oi, cut it out~ I’m getting chills listening to a ghost story in this darkness.”
Kouga: “You scared, man? Gyahahaha, what a loser!”
Mao: “Shut up. I can’t help what creeps me out.”
Subaru: "Hmm, the garden terrace, huh…
Hey, let’s go see what the rumors are about!
Nah, let’s not just see but catch the fireball! I bet it’s all shiny and sparkling!"
Mao: "A fireball won’t exactly be sparkling but blazing up, y’know…? No, wait. That’s not the important part.
Subaru, I’m begging you, stop coming up with weird ideas on the spot. For real."
Kouga: "Hah! What a pain in the ass. Count me out. I wasn’t too excited about this whole chaperoning business in the first place.
Akehoshi, if you really wanna take a look, you can go on your own."
Subaru: “No way, I wanna go with you guys! You don’t come across a fireball twice, right? What if you let this chance slide?”
Mao: “I’d rather not come across it for life, seriously.”
Subaru: “Geez, don’t be so boring, Sally. Wouldn’t you like to see it, Occhan, Anzu? The fireball!”
Adonis: "Hmm. Fire is considered holy in my motherland, I believe. If I do manage to see it, it may bring me fortune…
But it’s already late. Is it not dangerous?"
Mao: "He’s right, Subaru. We have Anzu with us right now. Let’s give up for today.
Right? You wanna go home, don’t you, Anzu?
Eh? You’d like to take a look? Since you might find out the truth about the ghost who looked like you?
Well, it’s true both stories happened in the garden terrace.
Seriously~? Hey, Anzu, can’t you think it over~? I get that you’re probably curious about it, but… You’re surprisingly a stubborn one, aren’t ya?"
Subaru: "Anzu, I love you~♪ Let’s hug! Gyuu-_gyuu_☆ Right!? Of course you’ll be curious, right?
Leave it to me, Anzu! I’ll definitely catch both the fireball and the ghost Anzu!☆"
Mao: "C’mon, let go of her, Subaru. Sexual harassment is sexual harassment regardless of your intention, 'kay?
(sighs)… Okay, you win. I can’t let Subaru and Anzu go by themselves. I’m going too."
Adonis: “Then I will also come. It will be safer with someone to protect you. I’m the most suitable for that role in this group.”
Kouga: “Haa!? So you’re all going anyway!?”
Mao: “You can’t stop Subaru and Anzu when they’re like this. ‘In for a penny, in for a pound’, I guess? Aah, spare me the troublesome stuff, really.”
Subaru: “I love you, Sally, Occhan~♪ I’ll give you a hug!”
Adonis: "Don’t mind it. Fortunately, I have called home to say that I will be late because of practice. I don’t have to hurry home to do the chores today.
I will protect all of you."
Mao: "Subaru, don’t lean your entire weight on me~ You’re heavy.
You’ve really got to stop acting on whims. I’ll have Hokuto scold you if you’re too selfish, got it?"
Subaru: "Sally, you meanie!
Well, so we’re all heading for the garden terrace, but what about you, Gami-san~?
Are you going home alone? Or are you coming with us? I wish we can all go together~"
Kouga: "Stop looking at me like you expect me to come with you.
Aaugh, fine, blast it. I just need to go, right?
I’m going. What a drag!"
Subaru: “Yay! Thanks, Gami-san☆”
Kouga: “Akehoshi, don’t cling to me like we’re close! You’re annoying! Shoo-shoo!”
Subaru: “Okay then! We’re departing for the garden terrace, guys! Hip-hip-hurray~☆”
¶Chapter 3
> Stairs
Subaru: "Fireball, Fireball, Mr. Firebaaall♪ Stop hiding and come out please~♪
We won’t be mean~ Don’t be scared~ Come on out~♪ "
Mao: "I’m scared, okay? What if the fireball decides to grant your wish and come out?
Mnn? What, Anzu? Aah ― it’s okay, I’m fine. With this many people, I’m not as scared as I say.
Anyway, I sure hope our adventure ends with nothing happening. Thanks for worrying about me, Anzu."
Subaru: "Gee, you’re such a scaredy-cat, Sally! You’re scared because you keep saying it’s scary!
Times like these, you’ve got to laugh off the fear! Ahahaha~☆"
Mao: “Ah, that really sounds like the captain.”
Subaru: “Eh, you’re kidding me!? No way~ Chii-chan-senpai’s the only one I don’t wanna be lumped together with~!”
Kouga: "Akehoshi, you’re bein’ damn noisy! Stop your yip-yap!
Anyway, I think there’s no one in this building.
My nose picks up smell better than most people, so I can tell when there’s someone nearby. I say we probably won’t be findin’ any ghosts or fireballs either?
Ha? What is it, Anzu? ‘Would a ghost smell’ you ask?
Why would I know, never even seen one before. That was just what my instincts said. Instincts.
Whoa! Don’t stumble, Anzu! You’re such a handful. Good that I caught your arm immediately."
Adonis: “There is barely any lighting around these parts. Everyone, watch your steps. Unlevel stairs may be hard to see.”
Subaru: “By the way, Occhan, what are the other things in that Yumenosaki Seven Mysteries you were saying?”
Adonis: “I only heard about the fireball. Do you know about the other Seven Mysteries, Oogami?”
Kouga: "Haa? Hinata said something about… I think there was…
The Bach portrait growing a long hair, the piano playing on its own――
And then the sobs of a female student that can be heard from the rooftop at night, or something…?"
Subaru: “Hmm, so rooftop, portrait and piano~♪ Those sound interesting too!”
Mao: "Piano, huh…? Maybe that’s actually Ritsu?♪ That guy wanders around the school at night a lot~
You know what they say ― when you look carefully, it’s always something more ordinary than you’d think♪ "
Subaru: “And the female student at the rooftop is Sakuma-senpai? He has long hair, after all.”
Mao: “Ahaha, Sakuma-senpai also sticks around the school at night, so maybe you’re not off the mark. It’s not so scary when I think of it like that♪”
Subaru: “But it’s strange to have a story about female student in Yumenosaki, huh? We only have Anzu.”
Adonis: “Right, and I’d heard the Yumenosaki Seven Mysteries have existed before Anzu transferred here.”
Subaru: “I guess the Sakuma-senpai theory for the rooftop ghost is pretty plausible?”
Mao: "What’s wrong, Anzu? The female student wasn’t Sakuma-senpai?
Huh, you sure seem to know a lot. You have an idea about it?
Wawa―!? Anzu, don’t suddenly shake your head like that.
‘I don’t know anything’? Okay, okay, I got it so calm down. You’re making yourself look even more suspicious."
Kouga: "Keh, who cares if it’s a ghost or Ritchi or the vampire bastard. I don’t give a shit.
I don’t get what’s so scary about ghost stories. They’re just stories."
Subaru: “Nn? Come to think of it, does anything scare you, Gami-san? It can be ghosts or roller coasters or bugs or snakes.”
Kouga: “Haa? Nope, nada. What makes you think I’ll have one? Don’t take me for a joke!”
Mao: “But everyone has a thing or two they’re scared of, right? Normally.”
Kouga: "Get off my case. Look, I’m a great noble wolf. Who’s gonna take me seriously if lil’ things can scare me?
Heheh♪ If you really wanna give me a fright, show me a dinosaur the size of a mountain."
Adonis: "Hmm. Something Oogami fears…
I recall that Oogami was frightened when an angry Sakuma-senpai punished him before. I’m sorry for not coming to your rescue back then."
Kouga: “What useless shit are you recalling, dumbass!? You askin’ to be knocked flying!?”
Subaru: “Ahaha☆ So the thing Gami-san’s scared of is an angry Sakuma-senpai~♪”
Mao: “I’m impressed you got Sakuma-senpai angry. What did you do?”
Kouga: “Leave it. I don’t remember anymore.”
Adonis: "The air cooler in Sakuma-senpai’s coffin broke because Oogami was making a mess in the clubroom.
Because of that, he couldn’t sleep inside the coffin for some time ― I guess even Sakuma-senpai would get angry over that."
Kouga: "Daaaaaah! Damn you, Adonis! Don’t just go spilling the beans!
I broke the vampire bastard’s exhaust fan when I was acting out a kung fu movie with the twins, is all."
Mao: “Eh? That coffin has an exhaust fan?”
Kouga: "Yeah, somewhere hard to see.
Anyway, he got really angry, but I mean, I said sorry and called someone to fix it. It’s all in the past.
Plus, Adonis! You gotta confess what scares you first before blabbin’ about someone else’s!"
Subaru: “You don’t look like anything could scare you, Occhan. You’re strong, and I might’ve never seen you being caught off guard? Do you have any fear?”
¶Chapter 4
Adonis: “My fear? …If you must ask, I would say it is my sisters.”
Mao: “Huh? You’re more scared of your sisters than of ghosts?”
Adonis: “Isara, you must not underestimate my older sisters. They are far more terrifying than any ghosts.”
Subaru: “What are they like, Occhan?”
Adonis: "When they find something they do not like, they would conspire with each other and tyrannize me.
But they got into a fierce dispute the other day, so I asked what was the problem.
They ended up prattling on about their minor gripes with each other that should be past; clothes being borrowed without permission, ice creams in the fridge getting eaten…
Since the fight only became more heated beyond my control, I tried to leave, but…
They all caught me before I could, and made me judge who was in the wrong.
I couldn’t pick any of them. Somehow, that ended up settling the fight, leading them to gang up on me like always…"
Mao: “W-Well… How should I put this… You have my condolences, but would you really say they’re scarier than ghosts?”
Adonis: “They are scarier than ghosts. If you tell me to pick between fighting against a tiger or my older sisters, I will choose to fight the tiger.”
Mao: “Are your sisters amazonesses?”
Subaru: “Ahaha, now you’ve got me curious. I wanna see your sisters, Occhan♪”
Adonis: “I would advise against that.”
Mao: “Still, it’s so rare to hear you talk in length, Otogari~”
Adonis: “Yes, I am not good at talking. But maybe I am feeling excited, to go on an adventure with you all.”
Subaru: “Yeah yeah, I get you, Occhan. Doesn’t wandering around the school at night just thrill you?☆”
Mao: “But I’m the opposite of thrilled?”
Subaru: “Geez! Sally, you scaredy-cat!”
Kouga: “Hey, Akehoshi. Don’t just poke at people’s fears, you gotta put your fears out there too. You’re not bein’ fair.”
Subaru: “Me? Lemme see~… Hmm~…”
Kouga: “There’s gotta be something, right?”
Subaru: “Ah, I love sparkling things!”
Kouga: “No shit, I was talkin’ about what you’re scared of! Not what you love!”
Subaru: “Gee, it’s just a little joke.”
Mao: “But you don’t seem like you’re scared of anything, Subaru. Scary stories don’t affect you, and you seem perfectly fine with the school’s night scenery.”
Adonis: “You are strong, Akehoshi.”
Subaru: "Hmm, you think so?
…"
Kouga: “…?”
Mao: “AAH!! That’s right!”
Kouga: “Eeeek!? Ba-Bastard, don’t just shout outta the blue! You gave me a shock!”
Mao: “Sorry, sorry. So you get surprised by people suddenly shouting, huh?”
Kouga: “Gaaaaaah! You tryin’ to pull a fast one on me!? Who wouldn’t get surprised by sudden loud sounds!?”
Adonis: “Oogami, calm down. So Isara, did you realize something?”
Mao: "Ah right, this isn’t time to be messing with Kouga.
Well, I was thinking that the garden terrace would be locked around this hour."
Subaru: “Eh!? You mean we wouldn’t be able to go inside, even though we’ve come this far!? That’s awful~! What should we do?”
Mao: "Hmm, no choice but to go get the key, I think? But it’s scary~
Sorry, Subaru, can you run and get the key? You’ll be fine by yourself, right?"
Subaru: “Eh!? Uhh~… That’s a bit…”
Mao: “…? What’s wrong, Subaru?”
Subaru: “Uh~…”
Adonis: "Ah, Akehoshi, Isara. You don’t have to worry about that.
We borrowed a spare key in case Anzu needed it to get what she forgot in the classroom. We should be able to enter the garden terrace with this."
Subaru: “Really? That’s great~☆ It’s thanks to you forgetting your stuff, Anzu♪”
Mao: “Ugh… When you think about how I end up in this predicament because she’d forgotten her stuff, I’m not sure if I should chalk that up to good or bad timing.”
Kouga: “Hah! Too bad. Brace yourself for it already. You’re so pathetic, Forehead!”
Mao: “Look, you, just because you’re not scared…”
Adonis: “In any case, we will arrive at the garden terrace soon, so what do we do? Should we start with the kitchen where ghost Anzu was sighted?”
Subaru: "What’s wrong, Anzu? Suddenly stopping on your track. And your face is white as sheet. Are you okay?
W-What’s wrong!? What’s throwing you off? 'Look over there’? Where? The garden terrace?"
Adonis: “W-What is that light?”
Mao: “Eeek!? W-What’s that orange light? It’s floating in the garden terrace!?”
Kouga: “Oi, oi! Something really came out!?”
Subaru: “Hyahoo☆ Fireball detected! Let’s get going, guys! C’mon, hurry up~♪”
Mao: “Ahh, dammit! Give me a break~…!”
¶Chapter 5
> Garden Terrace
Subaru: "'Scuse us~☆ Mr. Firebaaall…?
Huh~?"
Kouga: “Oi, Akehoshi, get inside already! We’re waiting back here!”
Subaru: “Whoa, Gami-san, stop pushing~! I’m gonna fall, I’m gonna fall!”
Mao: “Uukh… It’s darker than I thought inside the garden terrace.”
Adonis: “Is the fireball here?”
Subaru: “I don’t see anything. I don’t hear any whoos or boos either. It’s dark and quiet.”
Mao: “You don’t think ghosts really come out with that kind of theatrics?”
Kouga: “What’s that matter? It’s that light we saw we’re lookin’ for here.”
Subaru: “I wonder where it could’ve gone? The light was floating in the garden terrace interior, right?”
Kouga: “It vanished? Tch, feels like a fox played tricks on me.”
Adonis: “What to do next? Do we look for it?”
Mao: "Nah, isn’t it enough already? Okay, Subaru? You’re satisfied, right? We can’t keep looking for it forever, so let’s end it here and go home――
Ah! Don’t just start looking!"
Subaru: "Let’s search the garden terrace interior at least? It might be hidden behind something.
I’ll give up if we come up with nothing! Pretty please?"
Mao: “(sighs) …Okay! We’ll just search around these parts, and then go home! Promise me this?”
Subaru: "Yeah, I promise☆ Let’s split up and search the garden terrace, guys!
I’ll take here and over there!"
Adonis: “Then I shall go with Anzu. It is dangerous in this darkness. The moonlight does not make it safe enough.”
Mao: "Guys, just don’t get yourselves hurt, okay~?
Ooi, Kouga. Care to go to the kitchen with me? We can just take a peek then leave."
Kouga: “Haa? Why do I have to go to with you?”
Mao: “You’re fine with scary stuff, right? I just want to take a look and get out of here fast~ Please~ Okay? I’m begging you here!”
Kouga: "Don’t beg me! Stop acting like a joke; aren’t you a man!? Don’t you have any pride?
Tch, what a drag! C’mere, Forehead! Follow me!"
Subaru: "Search safely, Sally, Gami-san~♪
But there really is nothing here, huh~? I don’t see ghost Anzu either.
Say Anzu, you wouldn’t happen to switch place with the ghost on the way?
Ow-ow-ow!? Sorry, sorry! Don’t hit me~"
Adonis: “Was that light we all saw a trick of the eyes…?”
Subaru: "I wonder? What was that, really?
Aa~h, maybe it really is impossible to catch a fireball…? I think it’ll be really sparkly, though~
…!?
Hey, did you guys hear that ‘clang, rattle, bang’ sound coming from the kitchen!?"
Mao: “Uowaaaah!”
Kouga: “Ugyaaaaaa!”
Subaru: "Sally, Gami-san!?
Eh? What is it, what’s wrong!? Why is Sally and Gami-san scampering this way out of the kitchen!?"
Mao: “RUN FOR IT, GUUUUYS!”
Subaru: “Eeeh, wait a second!?”
Adonis: “Anyway, we should listen to Isara and run. This seems to be an emergency. Let’s go, Anzu, Akehoshi.”
Subaru: "Y-Yeah!
W-What’s going on, seriously!? I don’t get it at all~!"
¶Chapter 6
> Bicycle Parking Space
Subaru: “Huff… Haah…”
(I got separated from everyone else in the confusion.)
"Sallyyy! Anzuuu! Gami-saaan! Occhaaan!
…Uuh, no one’s responding. What should I do?"
(They… wouldn’t go home without me, would they?
I’m alone in a dark place…)
“…”
(My phone! Right, I just need to give them a call!
Contacts, starting with S… S… S… There it is! I should call Sally.
…
I’m only hearing his ringback tone. Why won’t you pick up~…? Pick up, Sally.
No, he’s not answering. Then Anzu! You’ll pick up, right Anzu?
…
Anzu’s no good too. It says her phone’s turned off…
What should I do? Occhan isn’t good with the smartphone, and he rarely ever picks up calls.
Will Gami-san pick up? But what if even Gami-san won’t answer my call?
I’ll lose all hope. And I won’t know what to do…
I’m not strong at all, guys. I’m scared of being alone in the dark…
It’s scary thinking Gami-san might not pick up my call, but I don’t like staying alone here even more… I should gather some courage and call him.
Please! Gami-san, pick up!)
"…Ah!
Hello, Gami-san!? Where are you~? I got separated from everyone and got stranded in the parking space!
Right… right. You’re on your own too, Gami-san? You’re inside the school building?
Umm, hey. Gami-san, can you come get me?
Ehh!? That’s not true! I’m not ordering you around!
It’s just, umm… I’m so scared I don’t think I can go to you, Gami-san.
I didn’t say it that time, but I’m really scared of being alone in the dark.
Even though I was fine when I had everyone, I just freeze up the moment I’m alone.
I’m scared~ Gami-san, save me…"
Kouga: “And you’d laughed it off just a while back, too. So you do have it ― somethin’ you fear.”
Subaru: “Huh!? I’m hearing two Gami-sans!?”
Kouga: “Over here, dumbass!”
Subaru: “Gami-san, how come you’re in the parking space!? Teleportation!?”
Kouga: “Are you stupid? I just walked here while taking your call.”
Subaru: “Gami-saaan! Thanks so much!”
Kouga: "Whoa! Don’t jump at me!
I swear I’ve told you over and over to stop being touchy with me!"
Subaru: “I know, I know. But really, thank you☆”
Kouga: “Keh! Anyway, you shouldn’t even hide it in the first place, you sly bastard. Just say it like it is: that you’re scared of being alone in the dark.”
Subaru: "Umm, but my fear felt a little different from how you guys are scared of ghosts or older sisters.
When I’m alone in a dark place――
It feels like I’m the only person in the world, and I just get increasingly anxious.
A dark world where I’m all alone isn’t sparkling at all… I don’t like it…"
Kouga: “Are you stupid?”
Subaru: “Gami-san, you call me ‘stupid, stupid’ too much! You bully!”
Kouga: “I call you stupid because you’re stupid. Where are we? The school’s parking space, right? Can’t you see the ‘sparkling’ bikes around you?”
Subaru: "…
Pfft…! Ahahahaha! You’re right! The wheels and the reflectors are all so shiny☆"
Kouga: "This isn’t some dark world, ya know.
Me, Adonis, Anzu, and Forehead, we were just a short distance away. And you’re saying you’re alone? What the hell?
We’re all here because you wanted to look for the fireball, right?"
Subaru: "Yeah. That’s… That’s right, huh?
I wasn’t alone at all!"
Kouga: “Tch. Fine if you understand. So what do we do? Look for the others?”
Subaru: "Ah, wait! My phone’s ringing… it’s Sally!
Hello, Sally? Are you okay? Yeah. Yup. So Anzu and Occhan are also with you? Ahh, that’s great♪
I have Gami-san with me, too. Okay, got it! Then we’ll go over there to regroup! Sure. Bye-bye~☆"
Kouga: “What did Forehead say?”
Subaru: “Sally said they’re all gathered in the garden terrace. We should go back there too!”
¶Chapter 7
> Garden Terrace
Mao: “Ooi, Subaru! Kouga! Over here♪”
Subaru: “Sally!”
Mao: “Guh!? Don’t crash into me like a monkey! You almost knocked me over!”
Adonis: “I’m glad you two are safe.”
Kouga: “You guys look fine too. Well, not that I care.”
Mao: "Subaru, sorry for not answering your call.
I dropped my phone in the garden terrace, y’see~ Man, that was such screw-up. I only noticed your call when I got it back."
Subaru: "So that’s why you didn’t pick up, Sally… Anzu seems to have her phone turned off too.
Ahaha, Anzu’s taking out her phone in a fluster.
Out of battery? Ah, so that’s why.
No, you don’t need to apologize. You couldn’t have done anything about it.
Anyway, what was with you two back there, Sally, Gami-san?
Just as some loud clanging-rattling sound came from the kitchen, we heard you two scream…
And saw you ran out of the kitchen in a hurry? I was really surprised."
Mao: “Ah~… Well, about that――”
Subaru: "Aaah! A fireball! Sally, guys, look! There’s a fireball in the garden terrace interior!
…Huh? But it’s too… small for a fireball? Maybe?"
Kouga: “Nn? (sniff, sniff) This smell is…”
Jin: "Ohh. Akehoshi, Oogami, so you’ve safely returned.
You brats gotta cut it out, seriously~
Don’t play around in the school when it’s night. If someone finds you, I’m the one who’ll get scolded. Mainly by Kunugi-sensei."
Subaru: “Eh, why is Sagami-chan here?”
Kouga: “So you’re the source of the smoke smell! It stinks like hell!”
Jin: "Ah, sorry sorry. I forgot you’re sensitive to smell, Oogami. Wait a sec ― I keep a pocket ashtray, see.
Look, I’ve put it out. Doesn’t smell as bad anymore, right?"
Subaru: "So the fireball was…
The light of Sagami-chan’s smoke? No way…"
Mao: "Yep. To give a rundown of what happened in the garden terrace――
Kouga and I were looking for the fireball in the kitchen, with little results…
Until suddenly, we saw a silhouette coming in from the backdoor.
That frightened the life out of me that I knocked over the cooking utensils left on the counter, you see~
The clattering freaked me out even further that I screamed. And Kouga got caught up in it."
Kouga: “Tch, it’s cuz you just screamed outta nowhere. Of course I couldn’t help screaming too, dammit.”
Mao: “So in the panic, we just scampered out of the kitchen with everything we had.”
Jin: "And the silhouette coming in from the backdoor was me.
I got curious since I heard voices in the school when the lights should be out already~
And when I came to take a look, I found you guys in the garden terrace."
Kouga: “Damn. If I was a lil’ bit calmer, I could’ve tell with the smell. You really played me, Forehead.”
Mao: “I wasn’t trying to play you! But I’ll admit my panic got us into this mess. My bad.”
Adonis: "Either way, I am glad nothing happened to the two of you, Oogami, Isara.
Anzu is nodding with me. Nn? Ah, so you also feel bad for getting everyone involved by saying you wanted to see the ghost, Anzu."
Subaru: “I’m the one who first said I wanted to catch the fireball. I’m sorry, guys.”
Adonis: “You two have nothing to worry about. We’re all safe. And I thought it was fun, searching for the school’s seven mysteries with friends at night.”
Mao: “Looking back on it, yup. And it really did end up being something more ordinary than we thought, after we looked☆”
Jin: “The ‘Seven Mysteries of Yumenosaki Academy’, huh…? I’m probably at fault for most of those…”
Subaru: “Eeeh, it was you all along, Sagami-chan!? The portrait of Bach growing a long hair too!?”
Jin: "That one was~ because I accidentally sprinkled chalk dust on the painting, probably.
When I took it to the back of the school in secret so I could beat the dust out, a student happened to see me.
Seemed like the chalk dust made it look like his hair grew out. It became a story of how I exorcised the painting’s ghost behind the school building. Ahaha."
Subaru: “Eh~? Do people really make that kind of mistake?”
Jin: “Don’t ask me. It’s not my fault they came up with that story.”
Subaru: “Then what about the Anzu ghost sighted in the garden terrace?”
Jin: “What’s that? Anzu, you were a ghost?”
Mao: “Ah no, the capta… Morisawa-senpai said he ran into an Anzu ghost in the garden terrace.”
Jin: "Aah, I remember him saying something like that. About seeing Anzu there?
But I didn’t see her so I can’t say~? You weren’t in the kitchen that time, right Anzu?
Well, that’s just how it is. You should know after seeing how Isara was like: When people get into a state of panic, they lose the calm to make a sound judgment~
Morisawa was really scared, so wasn’t he just seeing things?"
Subaru: “The piano playing on its own and the female student at the rooftop were also you, Sagami-chan?”
Jin: “Ahh~ That’s not me… but someone I know. Don’t worry; they’re human.”
Subaru: “Bummer… I feel silly after knowing the truth.”
Mao: “I’m relieved~♪”
Kouga: “Keh! So I was right; ghosts don’t exist!”
Adonis: “It’s a little unfortunate. If they exist, I was hoping to see them.”
Jin: "Anyway. You’re satisfied, right?
I’ll take the spare key and return it, so out you go. Dismissed, dismissed~"
Mao: “Let’s go back home, guys. Good night, Sagami-sensei.”
Subaru: “Sagami-chan, bye-bye~☆”
Jin: “See ya~ Take care on the way home, you kids~”
(I only started smoking in the garden terrace right before Akehoshi and Oogami came, but…
I guess I better keep the secret to myself.
Can’t be fanning their curiosity carelessly, or they might disrupt my peaceful night rest like today♪)
¶Chapter 8
> Path to school
Mao: “So there really was no ghost♪”
Adonis: “You look happy, Isara.”
Mao: "The whole day it felt like ten years were subtracted from my lifespan, y’know? Now that I’ve been freed from the scary experience, I’m in bliss~♪
Ahh, the average everyday is so wonderful♪"
Subaru: "To think the mysteries were all on Sagami-chan~ It’s pretty boring to have the truth uncovered.
The best part of an adventure is really when you have no clue what’s going on, I guess."
Adonis: “In any case, while many things did happen, I had a lot of fun. I would even like to go for another test of courage sometime.”
Mao: "Oi, gimme a break~! Let’s forget about tests of courage and play around in peace, like normal!
Sometime after school, maybe? We can drop by somewhere, go shopping, or go to the karaoke again with these members."
Adonis: “Yes. I will be looking forward to that.”
Kouga: “Keh! Don’t decide that for me. I’m not going.”
Mao: “Don’t say that~ You’re a member of the Yumenosaki Seven Mysteries Investigation Team too, Kouga♪”
Kouga: “Don’t suddenly conscript me into your weird group! I’m gonna bite you to death!”
Subaru: “Then, let’s all have a sleepover today!”
Mao: “There you go again! I said stop coming up with things on the spot, didn’t I?”
Subaru: "But it’s lonely to just part ways here! I wanna play more and more with you guys!
A sleepover isn’t scary or dangerous at all! Okay? Okay? I implore you, Sally-sama!"
Mao: “Nope. I’m not gonna bend this time.”
Subaru: "Sally’s being a spoilsport! Where did the kind Sally go?
Ah, are you actually a ghost pretending to be Sally? Give me back my Sally!"
Mao: "Stop clinging to me, Subaru. You won’t make me nod.
Look, it’s already late. You need to go home too, Anzu. Should I walk you?"
Adonis: “Isara, if you’re taking Anzu home, I will come as well.”
Mao: “Really? You’re a help~♪”
Adonis: “Akehoshi. I will definitely free up my schedule, so let’s play again when we both have time. We can have a sleepover too.”
Mao: “Alright then, we’re both going this way. Subaru, Kouga, see you tomorrow! Bye-bye~☆”
Subaru: "Ahh… Sally’s group left… Ugh~…
Gami-saaaaan!"
Kouga: “Uwoh!? Akehoshi, don’t leap at me with that much power! What the hell!?”
Subaru: “You’ll have a sleepover with me, won’t you, Gami-san!?”
Kouga: “The shit? Why do I have to go along with Akehoshi’s whims!?”
Subaru: “Recall the bonds we’ve woven, Gami-san~! Aren’t we buddies?♪”
Kouga: “And how’s that enough reason!? First off, stop riding on my shoulders! Just go play with Daikichi or something!”
Subaru: "Of course Daikichi will be with me, but I’ll be even happier if Gami-san and Leon also come♪
Wolves are nocturnal, right? So you’re still full of energy, right? I’m not gonna let go until you give me the okay! Gyuu~☆"
Kouga: “DAAAAAAH! Akehoshi, you bastard! Don’t mess with me! LET ME GOOOO!”
