In the afternoon classroom, the tea left on the long table had unknowingly lost its warmth.
From the moment the girl started speaking, time seemed to become difficult to pass.
Faced with such an unclear and dangling topic, even the usually chatty Yuigahama Yui didn’t know how to respond.
Seeing ghosts.
What did that mean?
Was it taken literally, as in she had actually seen a terrifying-looking creature?
Yotsuya Miko did seem a bit timid when she entered the room.
Or was it an exaggeration, a way of emphasizing an unexpected event?
After all, when Komachi learned that I had Yukinoshita and Yuigahama’s phone numbers, she had exclaimed, “That’s spooky—Onii-chan actually has a girl’s phone number!”
So, the first thing to do was to clarify the content of Yotsuya Miko’s words.
“Although you say that, what do you mean by ‘seeing ghosts’?
Are you talking about people who look terrifying?
Or did you encounter some inexplicable event?” Yukinoshita Yukino, implying something, deliberately glanced at Hikigaya Hachiman.
Hikigaya Hachiman was long used to Yukinoshita Yukino’s attacks; right now, he was more concerned about the girl’s predicament.
After being asked by Yukinoshita, Yotsuya Miko realized the ambiguity in her expression and added: “Yesterday, I saw a humanoid monster in the hallway.
Its head was shriveled, and it was wearing white, old-fashioned clothes.
It was standing outside the hallway looking at me, but I was on the fourth floor at the time—how could it be standing outside the window?
I was so scared I froze in place.
By the time I came to my senses, it had disappeared.
There were many students around, but they didn’t seem to react at all, so I thought I was hallucinating.
But at noon today, I saw the monster again.
This time, it walked straight toward me and has been following right behind me ever since…”
The girl’s expression looked calm enough, but her voice was trembling, and she even sounded incoherent.
Although Yotsuya Miko had stated the matter clearly, the members of the Service Club had no idea what the situation really was.
No one spoke rashly, each secretly organizing their thoughts.
In the silence, the sun dipped a few degrees lower.
The warm, orange glow took on a hint of darkness, casting a red blush over the classroom, where the lights had yet to be turned on.
The atmosphere grew heavy.
‘This really is ghostly.’
Hikigaya Hachiman thought to himself.
Setting aside the philosophical debate over whether mind or matter is primary, the first reaction of most people would be to think that the person in front of them had mental health issues.
The correct way to handle such a request would be to recommend a decent psychiatric hospital or a temple.
And because the president, Yukinoshita Yukino, was like an encyclopedia, she should be able to provide an even more reliable recommendation, yet she did not speak up immediately.
“Maybe it’s because Yotsuya-san has been under too much pressure lately?
Sometimes when I sleep at night, I mistake the curtains in front of the window for ghost shadows, and my mom teased me about it for a long time,” Yuigahama Yui said with a sweet smile, touching the bun made of her slightly curled tea-colored hair.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Yotsuya Miko also chimed in with a smile, then lowered her head, letting her bangs cover her face, making it impossible for anyone to read her expression.
‘But that’s not the case at all.
Faced with something like this, how could I possibly feel relaxed?
And it seems the senpais don’t really believe me either…’
Finally, clearing her throat, Yukinoshita Yukino responded earnestly: “My suggestion is to go to the Chiba City Hospital to check your mental state, and then go to Shinsho-ji Temple to have a ritual performed.
Of course, I personally still believe that there are no ghosts in this world.”
Yukinoshita Yukino’s suggestion was correct.
It was so correct that Yotsuya Miko likely believed it herself.
A psychiatrist might not be able to diagnose Yotsuya Miko’s condition, and a temple head priest might not have the power to solve ghost problems, but even then, that would be more reliable than seeking help from the three of them.
However, she had still come to this club, to the Service Club.
Then the issue had been wrong from the start.
Whether ghosts existed or not, or whether Yotsuya Miko had mental problems, none of that was important.
What was important was the emotion she wanted to share and the desire to be acknowledged by others.
Her heart was already tormented; she just wanted to seek some comfort.
Even including the client, we got the content of the request wrong from the very beginning.
Yukinoshita Yukino, Yuigahama Yui, let me show you the right way to do this.
Hikigaya Hachiman sat up straight.
“In other words, there are times when this ghost disappears from your line of sight, right?
Can you recall the details?”
When it came to invisible things, Hikigaya Hachiman had plenty of experience—after all, he had many invisible friends.
Yotsuya Miko raised her head, looking fearless and composed.
“Regarding it disappearing…
the first time, it vanished the moment I regained my focus, so I don’t know how it disappeared.
The second time, when I ran into it at noon, it followed right behind me.
It was still there after school, but as for how it disappeared…
how did it disappear?
…Right, I couldn’t see it anymore once I walked into this club room.” Yotsuya Miko said, a look of pleasant surprise appearing as she recalled.
“Is that so?
So even ghosts will flee in panic when they see Hikigaya Hachiman.”
Although she didn’t know what Hikigaya Hachiman was planning to do next, Yukinoshita Yukino cooperated with a knowing look.
“How is that possible?
Besides, my name is Hikigaya Hachiman.”
“So?”
“Hachiman Daibosatsu—that’s quite impressive, isn’t it?
Therefore, it’s impossible for ghosts or anything of the sort to just approach this place casually.” (Hachiman Daibosatsu translates to “Great Bodhisattva Hachiman”.
He is one of the most widely venerated figures in Japanese religion, serving as the syncretic guardian deity of warriors, archery, and the Japanese nation.)
“What an arrogant thing to say.
If one could have an influence just based on a name…
then, I suggest you change your name to ‘Hikigaya-who-is-handsome-when-he-closes-his-eyes.’ How about that?”
Pfft.
Yotsuya Miko burst into laughter.
Realizing her rudeness under the gaze of the others, she became visibly shy.
Amidst such banter and small talk, the sun had completely set.
The lights in the club room, turned on by someone, were glowing quietly.
Perhaps that twisted monster was still waiting outside the door.
But in this club room, in the Service Club, there was still warm light shining.
As long as a person is bathed in light, they will find a fountain of courage.
After thanking them, Yotsuya Miko strode toward the door.
‘Fearing the unknown is human nature, but involving this group of lovely senpais in something like this is too selfish.
Even if I’m alone, I can live well.’
Yotsuya Miko, moving forward!