Yotsuya Miko was out of breath by the ti she caught up to Ryuu.
She had been waiting all day for an opportunity to speak with him—ever since she made up her mind last week.
But with how popular Ryuu was, and after the chaos of this morning, she didn't want to attract too much attention.
So she waited.
And waited.
Until now.
Seeing him about to disappear into the crowd, she rushed forward.
Ryuu turned toward her as she approached.
"Sothing wrong?"
His voice was casual, yet sharp—like he already sensed sothing was off.
Yotsuya Miko clasped her hands together, bowing slightly.
"I-I'm Yotsuya Miko, a first-year at Sobu High as well!"
Her golden eyes darted nervously between him and the girl beside him.
"...I actually have a favor to ask, Natsukawa-san."
Then, realizing how sudden that sounded, she quickly added—
"I-I'm willing to pay you! I'll compensate you for your ti!"
"Compensation, huh?"
Ryuu nodded.
"Let's hear what it is first."
Just as Miko was about to explain, she hesitated.
Her gaze flickered toward Miura Yuko.
It wasn't sothing she wanted others involved in.
It was too dangerous.
But before she could say anything, Yuko spoke up—her tone cool and sharp.
"If you're asking for help, then why not just say it here?"
Yuko crossed her arms, tilting her head.
"Or… is this actually a confession in disguise?"
Her voice was laced with amusent, but her eyes?
Sharp. Testing.
Miko flinched.
"I-It's not like that!! I-I swear!"
Seeing her reaction, Ryuu chuckled.
"Yuko, you're going to scare her to death."
Miko pouted slightly.
"I-I'm not crying."
Yuko huffed, placing a hand on her hip.
"Then stop acting so suspicious. Why all the secrecy?"
"She does have a point," Ryuu added, nodding thoughtfully.
Miko's shoulders stiffened.
Seeing her look like a trapped rabbit, Ryuu decided to ease up.
"...I'm just joking."
He waved a hand, his smirk softening.
"Relax. You're giving way too much of a reaction."
Miko exhaled in relief.
But before she could fully relax—
Ryuu's next words froze her in place.
"I can feel it from you, Yotsuya-san."
His tone shifted—cool and controlled.
"You're dealing with sothing supernatural."
Miko's breath caught in her throat.
"...E-Eh?"
Ryuu's crimson gaze locked onto hers.
"Ghosts. Curses. Sothing along those lines, right?"
Miko's eyes widened in shock.
"Y-You—!"
Then, almost instantly, she nodded frantically.
"Yes! That's exactly it!"
Hope surged in her chest.
For the first ti, soone actually understood her problem.
Soone believed her.
She wasn't alone.
Maybe… just maybe… she could finally escape this nightmare.
"...Supernatural?"
Yuko's expression shifted.
She hadn't expected another person in school to be dealing with this.
More importantly—
She hadn't expected Miko to be able to see them.
"Wait," Yuko asked, frowning.
"You can actually see those things?"
Miko hesitated for a mont before nodding.
"Y-Yeah…"
Yuko exhaled, rubbing her temples.
"Great. Another person who deals with creepy shit."
Though she was a little uneasy, she wasn't as scared as before.
After all—she couldn't see them.
And as Ryuu had told her before—
"If you can't see them, they usually don't bother you."
So instead of fear, Yuko mostly just…
Felt bad.
Miko looked stressed. Exhausted.
Like she had been dealing with this alone for way too long.
"...I misunderstood you earlier."
Yuko spoke more seriously this ti.
Miko blinked in surprise.
"I'm sorry."
Hearing Miura Yuko—the so-called Queen of the School—apologizing so genuinely…
Miko was almost too stunned to respond.
"I-It's okay! Really!"
Then, she hesitated.
"...But wait. You can't see them, right?"
"Nope."
Yuko glanced at Ryuu.
"But I know about this world."
Miko's eyes widened slightly.
She envied that answer.
She wished she could live normally—even while knowing.
Miko turned back to Ryuu, her golden eyes desperate.
"Natsukawa-san… please help !"
She clutched her hands together, bowing deeply.
"I-I'll pay you whatever you want!"
"Any amount! Whatever you ask for, I-I'll do my best to fulfill it!"
Ryuu ntally bookmarked that sentence.
But outwardly, he remained calm.
"If I'm going to help, Yotsuya-san…"
His gaze sharpened.
"I need to know exactly what you've been experiencing."
Miko nodded rapidly.
"O-Of course!"
Then—Ryuu glanced toward Yuko.
"...But I have sothing else to do right now."
Miko froze.
Her breath hitched when she noticed his gaze shifting toward Yuko.
She understood.
"...I-I see."
Logically, she knew she could just wait until tomorrow.
But—
She had been having recurring nightmares.
Nightmares of being devoured by the mountain god.
Every night, they beca more vivid.
More real.
She didn't think she could last another night.
So, desperately—she turned to Yuko.
Her expression pleading.
"...Miura-san."
Even without words, Yuko felt it.
The silent plea.
The overwhelming fear.
For a mont, she hesitated.
Then, she sighed.
"...Tch. Fine."
She flipped her hair back.
"You can co with us."
Miko's eyes lit up with gratitude.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
For a brief mont—in Miko's eyes—
Yuko looked like an angel.
---
After a ten-minute walk, the trio arrived.
Ryuu raised a brow at the sight of Yuko's house.
A three-story, Western-style mansion.
"Wow."
He whistled.
"Yuko's house is pretty big."
Yuko shrugged.
"It's alright."
She entered the passcode and stepped inside.
"Co in."
Miko hesitated before stepping inside, looking around in awe.
anwhile, Ryuu?
He flopped onto the couch imdiately.
"...This is nice."
Yuko rolled her eyes.
"It was nice—until you started talking about ghosts and curses."
She placed drinks and snacks on the table.
"So take responsibility for it."
Ryuu chuckled.
"Of course."
Yuko huffed, crossing her arms.
Then—she glanced at Miko.
She had been nervously looking around.
"...What?" Yuko asked.
Miko hesitated.
Then—swallowed.
"...Miura-san."
Her voice trembled.
"Is there sothing… in your house?"
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