Chapter 2

Keeeep walking~ We’re just about there.

Or like, we’re so behind schedule. Why the hell’s it taking so long to get there?

—You really aren’t aware of whose fault that is? HiMERU must applaud you for that.

Your constant detours and meddling with us has slowed us all down.

Yeah, seriously. It’s not like the arcade is a light-year away from the café.

Oh. On that note, I just saw the building the arcade’s in.

—Huh? Wait a sec, I haven’t heard from Kohaku-chan for a little while…

……

Whoops, you were right behind me~ You were so quiet I didn’t even see you.

……

Hello? Earth to Kohaku-chan!

Ah! O–oh… Sorry, I was a little spaced out.

Umm… you okay? In general, I mean. We’re almost at the arcade.

But if that’s not really your thing then—

Whatcha talkin’ about, Niki-han? Everything’s peachy. I’m the same as always.

Yep, sure am. My mind’s calm as a lull at sea. Pretty weird of you to say that kinda thing, not that you don’t usually say weird stuff anyway. Ko ko ko.

Umm. I mean, if you say so…

But you shouldn’t push yourself if you’re not up for it, y’know. This was just Rinne-kun’s idea, after all. He’s just dragging us along ‘cause he wants our attention.

I already told you. I’m not pushin’ myself at all, okay?

Ahh~ I’m so pumped I could fill a tire! C’mon, let’s get in there!

…So this is the haunted house…

Huh… It’s cooler than I thought it’d be. When I heard it was at an arcade, I did think it’d be more of a kiddie thing.

It seems they were trying to make it as realistic as possible on a small scale. Apparently, they even hired a famous producer who specializes in haunted houses.

! W–was that scream just now comin’ from in there? Wah, there it is again!

There’s a lot of screaming coming from inside.

Oh hell yeah. Looks like it lives up to its name. Sick! It’d be lame if it was boring after using up our day off on this place.

You guys got your tickets? Okay, let’s gooo~ ♪

—We get it, Amagi; you don’t have to keep pushing us around. It’s so dark inside that you can’t even see your own feet.

Haunted houses like this have got a ton of traps and tricks to scare you, right? I’m not really afraid, but getting jumpscared over and over is gonna waste all my energy. I’m gonna get soooo hungryyyy…

Uh. W–wait a—

(What is with these guys…! How aren’t they scared even a little?! They must have iron in place of their hearts or something! And that’s why they’re always so damn insensitive! Yeah, that’s gotta be it!)

(Everyone’s already gone inside, so I gotta hurry up and get in there…)

(It’s fine. I’ll just pop in, then pop back out! It’s just for a moment. It’ll be over in the blink of an eye! Just gotta chin up!)

(Yikes… It’s pitch black! I didn’t hear anything about this. It’s even darker than I thought it’d be! Even the zashikirou I was in was better than this!)

Ooooh, so scaaaaary! Can’t see a thing in front of me! If a monster jumps out as us, Rinne-kun might piss his pants! ♪

You sound like you’re having the time of your life… I really don’t think you’re scared at all, Rinne-kun.

You hardly look scared either, Shiina.

I’m more scared of an empty belly than I am a ghost. Oh, but I don’t think you can really eat ghosts, so that definitely freaks me out.

What’s the point of something existing if you can’t eat it, right?

Amazing. You would even be willing to eat ghosts?

……

(Wh–what the… It may be dark, but since they’re all yammerin’ away, I’ve kinda calmed down a bit…)

(And my eyes are adjusting to the darkness, too.)

(I think I’ll be able to make it to the end like this ♪ I mean, I was a bit nervous doin’ something new, but I definitely wasn’t scared.)

(So it’s fine. This whole haunted house thing ain’t such a big deal ♪)