Chapter 1

Kokoko. We’re finally here; it’s my time to shine! And this is just a stage. No more of that godawful haunted house nonsense!

Rehearsal was rough though, right? The stage is in the haunted house, so we had to walk through it while it was still running.

We did enter through the rear, thinking it would be somewhat better.

But then the cast members of the haunted house were resting in the green room, so going in through the back ended up being not much different from the actual haunted house.

Every time we saw a monster, you screamed so loud it could be heard a block away, but hey! You didn’t start throwing punches, so I think you’ve grown up a lot.

You should be proud of yourself, Kohaku-chan!

Sh–shut up!

But it’s fine, yanno? Scary shit is scary. But the really terrifying thing is when you don’t feel anything at all, whether it’s fear, pain, sadness, or loneliness.

If you can still scream whenever you see something you hate, it’s proof you still got a heart beating in that chest of yours!

Hmph!

Rinne-kun says some decent things sometimes. I think of it like he’s got a doppelganger at times like these.

Niki-kyuuuun~ C’mere, I wanna make your makeup bruises a lot more realistic~

N–no thanks! They’re good enough as-is!

I’m always saying good shit: proverbs, poems, you name it. Rinne-kun’s like a modern-day Goethe, so don’t underestimate him, got it?

Don’t say that; it’s disrespectful to Goethe. You’re more like a parrot who keeps saying the same things over and over. Pachinko, money, gambling—pachinko, money, gambling.

Hey! That’s so mean, Meru-Meru! That’s not all I talk about!

…Wait, shit. We were too caught up—It’s already time for our unit to get up there.

Welp, let’s take out places.

Hang on!

Huh? What’s wrong, Kohaku-chan?

…What do you think of when you say Halloween?

Huh? What’s all this about?

Candy and pumpkins?

—Costumes? The eve of All Saints’ Day?

N–no! That’s not what I—Urgh…

Okay. There’s a whole saying for when you see someone on Halloween, right?!

Trick or treat, maybe?

…Ngh. Just take this.

—What is it…? Cookies?

Oh! These are the ones we made before, right?

I’m still beyond pissed at Rinne-han for pickin’ on me, but you guys did all this just for my sake.

So this is repayment for that. I guess I mean to say… thanks, everyone.

……

……

What?! Don’t look at me with those stupid-lookin’ grins on your faces.

Bwaha…! Y–you’re welcome, Kohaku-chan…! Pfft, haha, this was real cute of you… pfffft.

……

Oopsie~! I’m walking on some thin ice here. That look tells me everything I need to know—If I keep laughing, I’m not gonna be able to drag my body up on that stage.

Oh yeah! It’s time for Crazy:B to perform! Today’s Halloween, so we should get in the spirit!

Hell yeah! Then let’s get up on stage and start this parade of monsters, ya bastards!

“Trick or treat! Now get your bones a-rattling or else they’ll be a-scattering!”

“If those are the rules, then shouldn’t it be trick or enjoy?”

“Eh, it’s all good. Halloween’s all about fun fun fun~! Don’t sweat the details so much!”

“There’s a whole buncha fun holidays out there, but Halloween’s the best one for me!”

“Oh right, Niki-han says this is his favorite holiday because you get candy.”

“Fufu ♪ It’s not just that. Halloween brings everyone together, even across boundaries, with just some candy, y’know? So basically it’s a holiday that screams that love will save the world!”

“I don’t get why you said that with such a smartass look on your face. Look, even all the people who came to our live are confused.”

“Sorry everyone. But today’s Halloween, right? So just for today, we spider monsters can gather our strength and run amok. I guess you could say we’re a biiiit excited.”

“Kokoko. We’re gonna catch you all in our web and keep you as our prisoners! Since we’re spiders, after all. Crazy:B ain’t lettin’ go, so get ready… ♪”

“♪ ~ ♪ ~…”

Hey, Rinne-han. There’s still some dust over here. Get to it.

Right, right.

—Wait, this is insane! We were enjoying our live like a whole buncha besties, right?

So why’s Kohaku-chan ordering me and Niki to slave away like this?!

I’m just cleaning ‘cause it’s part of my job. You’re the only one getting orders here, Rinne-kun.

—Amagi. Don’t drop your mop on the floor; it’ll kick up dust.

Meru-Meru! What’re you doing sipping coke all on your own?! That’s no fair!

Fufu, well of course. I appreciate you doin’ all this for my sake—

But I’ve still gotta punish you for toyin’ around with me for your own sick pleasure, Rinne-han~ ♪

I don’t consent to this!

Move your hands, not your lips. Or what, would you rather your punishment be my fists?

Not to worry! I’ll have this place shining!

That’s one hell of an about-face.

C’mon now. Finish this up quickly, and we can finish our mahjong game from before. We’ve got all four of us here today.

If we’re missing just one of us, we aren’t in top shape. So it’s best to play mahjong all together ♪