How was it? Was it fun!
Upon reaching the ghost house exit, the vampire girl who had greeted them earlier bounced over, asking excitedly.
Sakuya, still trembling, remained hidden behind Shion, her face buried in Shion’s shoulder, utterly unwilling to meet anyone’s gaze.
Having just grasped the full extent of what had transpired, Shion quickly put on a cheerful facade. “Yes, it was great fun!” she exclaimed. “It was genuinely quite frightening; I’m still a little shaken.”
The vampire girl glanced at Sakuya, who was still cowering behind Shion. “And Kujou-san?” she inquired. “Is she alright?”
“She… she’s fine, really,” Shion quickly interjected, covering for Sakuya. “She was just a bit startled. Kujou-san is quite afraid of ghosts, you see.”
The vampire girl nodded. “Ah, so Kujou-san is scared of ghosts. Our haunted house isn’t all that elaborate, though; it has plenty of flaws. Still, I’m glad you both had fun!”
“Well, we’ll be heading off now. Good luck with the rest of your shift!” Shion said, waving to the vampire girl.
The vampire girl waved back, then swiftly moved to greet the next guests. Seizing the opportunity, Shion quickly ushered Sakuya away.
During the Cultural Festival, the classroom corridors buzzed with activity. While Sakuya’s current state was undeniably peculiar, everyone’s attention was fully absorbed by the various festival events, ensuring that thankfully, no one noticed their predicament.
“Kujou-san, did you bring any spare clothes?” Shion whispered, glancing back at her.
“No…” Sakuya’s voice was barely a whisper, almost inaudible. “I… I never expected this to happen… I actually wanted to use the restroom before going into the ghost house, but I thought we’d be out quickly… I’m really, really terrified of ghosts…” By the end, Sakuya’s words had devolved into a jumbled mess.
“Should we go to the restroom first and get you changed?” Shion suggested.
Just as Sakuya was about to nod, she noticed a queue had already formed outside the restrooms. Today, in addition to students from their own school, junior high students and parents from the town had also been invited, drastically increasing the foot traffic within the school.
“So many people…” Sakuya murmured fearfully. “Everyone will notice…”
“Where should we go then?” Shion continued, her voice hushed.
“Perhaps the rooftop near the water tower? I used to go to the rooftop to read; there are rarely many people there,” Sakuya whispered softly.
“Eh?!” This time, it was Shion’s turn to be shocked, though she managed to stifle her gasp.
Sakuya, her face flushed crimson, pleaded, “Please, Hoshimori-san, help me cover this up! Otherwise, I’ll surely die of embarrassment!”
“Kujou-san!” A girl passing by them suddenly greeted them with cheerful enthusiasm. Sakuya seemed to flinch, instinctively grabbing Shion’s hand and hiding behind her.
“Oh, Kujou-san and Hoshimori-san from Class A, hello! You two seem really close!” The girl winked at them as she walked past, then continued in a different direction. Shion was momentarily stunned, but realizing it was likely someone Sakuya knew, she offered a polite nod in return.
“She’s a very enthusiastic classmate of ours; she scared me half to death!” Sakuya clutched a strand of her hair, tugging Shion forward. “Hoshimori-san, hurry! If I run into any more classmates, I’ll be completely socially ruined!”
They ascended the stairs, passing classrooms belonging to second and third-year students, navigating a corner where only a sliver of sunlight pierced through, until they finally reached the rooftop.
This was the very spot where Shion had once shared lunch with Rie, and where Rie had invited her a couple more times since. Now, the rooftop was deserted, save for a solitary water tower standing tall. The view from here was expansive, offering a panorama of the bustling crowds at the school’s main entrance below and the vast, azure sea in the distance. A cool breeze swept across the rooftop, mingling with the summer sun to create a perfectly pleasant warmth.
Once they were both on the rooftop, Shion quickly shut the door, then braced her body against it, ensuring no one else could enter.
“Uh… are you going to change here? This is a high point, so no one else should be able to see,” Shion said, surveying their surroundings.
Sakuya, her face still beet red, nodded, her gaze pleading with Shion. “Hoshimori-san, could you please not look at me for a moment?”
Under Sakuya’s intense gaze, Shion felt her own cheeks warm. She gave an “okay” gesture, then hastily pulled out her phone to mask her embarrassment. “Um, isn’t Ayane’s next performance about to start?”
“Don’t worry, there’s still a little while,” Sakuya replied, checking the time. The change of topic had indeed helped her relax slightly.
Sakuya lifted her skirt, revealing her pale thighs and the “absolute territory” (TL Note: A Japanese term referring to the exposed area of skin between a girl’s mini-skirt and thigh-high socks, often considered alluring in anime/manga culture.). Her eyes fixed on Shion. “Hoshimori-san, please close your eyes, won’t you?”
“Alright, alright,” Shion murmured obediently, closing her eyes.
“Hoshimori-san, I’m going to lean on you for a moment. Please stand steady,” Sakuya whispered into Shion’s ear.
Shion, with her eyes still closed, nodded. Then, she felt Sakuya lean against her, hearing only the rustle of fabric and Sakuya’s shy, quickened breaths.
Just then, a somewhat strong gust of wind swept across the rooftop. The door behind Shion seemed to suddenly give way.
Shion, already supporting Sakuya, instantly lost her footing as her center of gravity shifted. “Kujou-san, watch out!”
“Ah!” Sakuya shrieked, losing her balance and tumbling into Shion’s embrace.
“Kujou-san, are you hurt?” Shion asked, patting Sakuya’s back.
“Not hurt, but…” Sakuya trailed off, burying her head deeper into Shion’s chest.
Shion was about to press for more details when she suddenly felt a… warmth on her calf. Having nearly fallen and now sitting on the ground, Shion glanced up slightly, her eyes falling upon the puddle beneath Sakuya’s skirt.
“Eh?!” The girl’s expression was one of utter shock.
Sakuya, her eyes brimming with tears, stared at Shion, then forcefully pounded Shion’s chest. “I-I wet myself again! Just a little bit came out in the ghost house, and I didn’t get to the restroom. Once I took off my underwear, I couldn’t hold it in at all! It’s all because you didn’t stand steady, Shion-san!”
“I’m so sorry! The door was moving because of the wind!” Shion quickly apologized.
“Shion-san!” Sakuya looked at Shion with pitiful eyes. “Shion-san, I’ll call you that from now on! Please, I’m begging you! I’ll do anything for you in the future, just don’t tell anyone about today! This is my lifelong plea!”
“Huh? And if I do tell…?”
“I’ll drag you with me and we’ll jump off this rooftop!” Sakuya declared, staring intently into Shion’s eyes.
“I know, I know! I won’t say anything, alright!”
“Shion-san, swear to the gods in the name of a Miko (TL Note: A shrine maiden, serving Shinto deities)!”
“I get it! Kujou-san, please wipe yourself with some tissues first; we still need to go watch Ayane’s performance!”