Chapter 1
Oh, hey there. Good work. We’re just about finished up here too. Just gotta set the candles out… And done.
Wait, what’s that for? This sure is a whole lot of prep work. Where’d you even get those futons from?
Apparently, he borrowed it from the night guard’s room.
HiMERU assumed that when you said we’d be telling ghost stories, we’d just be staying up late to talk. He didn’t think it would go this far…
Amagi, aren’t open flames prohibited in this building? If we use candles, won’t someone get angry?
Nah, it’s fine. These aren’t real candles, they’re LEDs. If you blow on ‘em, a sensor detects it and it turns off. It’s like magic!
We don’t have to worry about a thing~ ♪
Why’s it that you only get fired up about stuff like this… It’s so annoying.
It’s not that we’re worrying. It’s just a dance room we use all the time; there’s nothing particularly scary about it.
Oh, is that whatcha think? Check this out. I’ll just cut the lights and—
How ‘bout them apples! Pretty awesome, isn’t it? It’s like the perfect atmosphere to tell some ghost stories! So it’ll make for a great training session, right Kohaku-chan?
Ngh…
(I–It sure is. As soon as he turned the lights off, the whole atmosphere really settled just like he said…!)
(Are we seriously gonna tell a bunch of ghost stories like this?)
(There’s so many stories about people gettin’ hurt when they play around with ghosts, so why’re we even doing this?)
(Like, do we really have to do this in the dark? It’s not like it makes a difference if the lights are on.)
(We’re in an era of diversity, ain’t we? So it should be fine to tell ghost stories in a bright room with penlights wavin’ around and dance music playin’ in the background!)
(This is bad. Bein’ in the dark heightened my senses.)
(I can pick up more of my surroundings than usual…! Stuff I’d normally never pay the slightest bit of attention to. I can even smell all the delicious food waftin’ in from the neighborhood…)
(—Huh? But ain’t it strange to be able to smell all that? We’re in a high-rise. Am I hallucinating, or where’s that comin’ from…?)
… ♪ (cheerfully making a large amount of food)
C’mon, Niki! What’re you ruining the atmosphere for? Rinne-kun worked damn hard to set this up for our ghost stories!
Ow ow ow ow ow ow?! Don’t put me in a headlock!!!
B–but it’s cause you said I could have a midnight snack, didn’t you? That’s why I put so much effort into getting this ready!
There’s a limit there, man! Don’t you know where we are? It’s not a buffet!
Sandwiches, onigiri, soup, pizza. Some dim sum, fried foods, french fries. Cake, jello…
Based on the lineup, HiMERU would say it is a buffet.
Yeah but—! I’m more scared of an empty stomach than any ghost story you could tell. That’s why I have to make sure I’ve got all my snacks ready for me.
If I get hungry in the middle of the night, I’ll be so scared… so scared…
……
(Huh? These guys are actin’ so normal, it’s makin’ me less scared, too.)
(Then all’s well…! If this keeps up, this night’ll be a piece of cake…!)
(I’m gonna get through tonight no matter what. And then I’ll be able to step into a bright new tomorrow!)
……
—……
…… (gulps)
—And there was no way it could be the manager or any other employee, either.
So I’m like, who was the guy I saw in the kitchen at Cinnamon?
And did he have something to do with the fever I had for the next three days? Even now, I don’t know. Aaand that’s the end of the story.
—Wait, what? What’s with you guys? You’re all quiet.
You bastard, you actually had a real horror story up your sleeve?! You were supposed to be the one telling some dumbass story so we could play straight man!
What?! You asked me to tell a scary story I’ve experienced, and I did!
That was the most genuine ghost story of all of us. And the fact that it was set in a location we all know makes it feel even more like a true story.
Seriously. Never expected this from Niki of all people.
…Mh? Oh, it’s gotten pretty late. I’mma take a quick break—The night’s still young, after all.
How do you still have so much energy, Amagi? Consider how we’ll feel tomorrow: HiMERU would like to rest already.
Aww, you can’t flake on us already, Meru-Meru~
Please don’t cling to HiMERU. It’s a nuisance.
My stomach’s at its limits after just this much…! I’m gonna die. If we keep going like this, I’ll be the next ghost story you tell…
Shiina. You’re in the way. If you’re going to collapse, at least do it on your futon.
……
(Niki-han!!! Rinne-han was completely right. He turned my expectations right on their heads. But he’s not supposed to be that kinda guy!)
(I thought he was gonna be the easiest one to listen to. But he betrayed me!!!)
(…What should I do? I wanna go to the bathroom…)
…… (looks around restlessly)
(Not Rinne-han. He’d just make fun of me.)
(Niki-han… urgh. I don’t think he’d make fun, but he’d put food over me any day, so I can’t rely on him.)
(And I have a grudge against him for that story.)
(Guess that leaves HiMERU-han as the only one I can ask…)
Honestly… Those two are the older of us. I don’t understand how they can be so hopeless.
(whispering) HiMERU-han.
—Mm? What is it, Oukawa?
U–um. I’ve gotta go to the bathroom, but… You think you could, um…
……
Oh, perfect timing. HiMERU was wanting to take a break, too. Can HiMERU go with you, Oukawa?
…! Sure thing! If that’s what you want, we’ll go together ♪