Unexpected Gifts and Latent Power

“Yo, Leidi! You’re here.” From a distance, the girl waved, beckoning us closer.

“Long time no see, Senpai.”

As we walked over, Leidi offered a simple greeting, sensing an immediate warmth and familiarity from this senior.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Nearly two months since we last saw each other. How have you been?” The senior stretched languidly, raising her arms high above her head, utterly unconcerned by our watchful eyes.

“Quite well, thanks to you, Senpai. These past months have been remarkably tranquil,” Leidi replied, a grateful smile gracing his lips.

‘Tranquil?’

‘Had this senior secretly done something on our behalf?’

Upon reaching her, the senior’s gaze, filled with keen interest, settled upon me. She smiled, then extended a hand.

“Hello. I am Samidare Ruka, the holder of Gate Number Three. For a short while, I’ll be serving as your and Leidi’s instructor. I look forward to working with you both.”

The smiling senior, a touch taller than both Leidi and me, possessed a cascade of raven-black hair that swept past her shoulders. Her lively, wispy bangs were adorned with a prominent fabric hairband, predominantly patterned in vibrant yellow and red. Strands of shoulder-length hair, artfully escaping the expansive band, framed her exquisite face, enhancing her delicate features. The sight of her slender, fair legs, revealed beneath her shorts, and the impressive figure subtly hinted at by her sportswear, created a captivating blend of youthful vitality and mature allure.

“Hello, my name is Bai Ping. It is truly I who should express that sentiment, Samidare Ruka-senpai.” I spoke in fluent Japanese, a private thought blooming in my mind about the remarkable utility of the choker around my neck.

‘Knowing little about proper social etiquette for elders, I simply offered a polite smile and returned her handshake for the time being.’

“There’s no need to be so formal,” she chirped, still clasping my hand, her smile widening as she swiftly leaned her face impossibly close to mine. “You can call me Samidare, or Ruka, or even ‘Number Three.’ But if you’re comfortable, ‘Big Sister’ would be even better!!!”

‘So close! Our noses are practically touching!’

Caught under such close scrutiny by another girl, I instinctively averted my gaze, a flush creeping up my cheeks.

“H-h-how could I possibly dare?” I stammered, still unable to face her directly, a slightly awkward smile plastered on my face. “I’ll just call you Senpai, like Leidi. And Senpai, do the Gates really have numbers?”

“They do, indeed. The Gates are numbered according to their order of creation. Your Gate, and Leidi’s, is Number Four.”

The senior leaned in, tilting her face just so, and softly blew a wisp of air into my ear.

“W-wah—!!!” A sudden shiver ran through me, and my face instantly flared crimson, right to the tips of my ears.

“Senpai, please don’t tease her like that. This child gets shy easily,” Leidi interjected, his hands grasping my shoulders as he promptly pulled me back.

‘While I was grateful for his timely intervention, what exactly did he mean by “this child”?! I’m practically your age, if not older—I don’t even know my precise birth date, so I might very well be older than you.’

“Oh? Leidi, you’re really starting to sound like a big sister,” the senior remarked, a wicked smile playing on her lips.

‘Did she, too, know Leidi’s true gender? I resolved to ask Leidi about it later.’

The senior gestured for us to sit on a long bench positioned beside the iron railing. We settled down in the order of ‘Senpai, Leidi, and me.’

‘Odd. What exactly were these benches doing on a rooftop?’

I glanced around, noting that it wasn’t just a single bench. This was markedly different from schools in China. Then again… Chinese school buildings often lacked railings entirely, if I recalled correctly.

“I have something special for you both today,” the senior announced, her voice drawing my attention back to her.

“Ta-da! A veritable sack of welcome gifts!” The senior declared, her grin wide as she theatrically produced a cylindrical brown fabric bag.

****

Leidi and I, still seated on the bench, silently exchanged glances, blinking in unison as we processed the senior’s recent actions.

‘This bag… where had it appeared from?’

‘I was absolutely certain that mere seconds ago, it had only been the three of us: me, Leidi, and the senior! The entirely open surroundings offered nowhere for a bag to be casually placed, nor was there sufficient space beneath the bench to conceal such a substantial cylindrical package. If a girl’s skirt were considered an alternate dimension, then how could this senior, clad in ultra-short athletic shorts, possibly account for its sudden appearance?!’

“S-Senpai, this bag…?” I inquired cautiously, desperate for an explanation.

“Well, since we’ll be working together from now on, these are welcome gifts for both of you from the other Gate holders, myself included.” The senior, however, seemed to entirely miss the point of my question.

“No, that’s not it. We’re trying to figure out where this bag actually *came from*? We definitely didn’t see it a moment ago…” Leidi clarified.

“Oh~ you’ll find out about that later,” the senior replied, her smile unwavering as she completely disregarded our persistent questions. “For now, let’s just open the gifts.”

‘My curiosity only intensified… but I decided to drop the matter. It was clear the senior had no intention of revealing her secret just yet.’

Resting the cylindrical bag on her lap, the senior began rummaging through its contents.

“Aha! Found them!”

The senior’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction, and from within the bag, she produced two small objects…

‘Copper coins?!’

‘The kind with a square hole in the center, at that.’

The senior narrowed her eyes, delicately pinching the two copper coins between her fingers before carefully handing one to me and the other to Leidi.

Picking it up, I observed that the copper coin was only marginally larger than my thumb. Its pristine condition, devoid of any rust or scent, immediately suggested it was far from an ancient artifact. My suspicion was comically confirmed by the words “MADE IN CHINA” stamped around the square hole, utterly shattering any illusion of antiquity.

‘MADE IN CHINA… the immersion wasn’t just slightly broken; it was annihilated.’

I couldn’t suppress a burst of laughter.

“Oh, come on, you two, stop laughing,” the senior chided, though a telltale giggle escaped her own lips.

“Don’t let its rather amusing appearance deceive you; this item is actually quite practical.”

Leidi and I turned to face the senior, our laughter still bubbling forth.

“What exactly is it for?” My voice wavered, thick with suppressed mirth.

Leidi asked, clutching his stomach with one hand, evidently having laughed himself sore.

“The holder of Gate Number Two has specially treated these two copper coins,” the senior explained, a smile playing on her lips. “If you carry them, they can prevent ghosts and spirits from possessing you.”

“So, there really are ghosts in this world?” I asked, my laughter abruptly ceasing as I adopted a serious demeanor.

“If there are gods, is it really so strange for there to be ghosts?” Leidi and the senior retorted in unison, striking me with their logical comeback.

“Y-yes, I suppose you’re right, ha, haha,” I conceded, forcing a weak laugh.

The senior turned her attention back to the bag, rummaging through its depths once more. This time, she retrieved two considerably larger objects…

“Huh?!”

The senior produced two long, green, cylindrical items…

‘Two sections of bamboo?!’

The senior handed us the bamboo sections, each roughly the size of a tall drinking glass, with one end sealed by a wooden stopper.

“These bamboo sections are a gift from me, the holder of Gate Number Three,” the senior announced, her face practically glowing with an unspoken demand for praise. “They can be used to seal away yokai and preserve souls!”

“This truly feels like an extraordinary item…” I managed to exclaim, so astonished that I could offer little more than this simple observation. This thing was actually a sealing tool!

‘However… compared to the ghost-repelling copper coins, these bamboo sections seemed distinctly less practical for us, didn’t they?’

I turned to look at Leidi. While his expression mirrored my own ‘how do I use this’ bewilderment, he nevertheless seemed quite intrigued by the item.

“Don’t you like them?” the senior asked, leaning closer, a touch of dejection coloring her voice.

“Well… Senpai, we wouldn’t know how to use them,” Leidi admitted with a wry smile.

‘It was better to be honest about this; there was no point in putting on airs.’

“You could even use them as water flasks…”

The senior’s expression was utterly pathetic, pleading ‘please don’t throw them away…’ This adorable contrast in her demeanor was incredibly endearing.

“Yes, we’ll certainly use them as water flasks,” I affirmed with a smile, assuring her that we would not waste her kind gesture.

“Thank you!”

“Wow!” ×2

The senior lunged horizontally across the bench, embracing both Leidi and me. Evidently, she was overjoyed that we had accepted her gifts.

“W-w-what about the next gift?”

Leidi, sandwiched between us, strained his neck, his face flushed and his breathing labored. I, too, was nearing my limit.

“Oh~ I’ll get them for you.”

Perhaps sensing that she was squeezing us too tightly, the senior released us quite abruptly. Her strength was truly remarkable.

This time, the senior pulled out a pile of black and white items from the bag, which appeared to be wristbands.

She separated the white ones for me and gave the black ones to Leidi. There were four of each.

“Senpai, what are these wristbands for?” I asked, my anticipation rising, wondering what magical properties these possessed.

“You two aren’t very familiar with the other Gate holders, are you?”

“No.” ×2, After all, we had only recently been embroiled in all this.

“These wristbands were created by the holder of Gate Number One,” the senior explained earnestly. “She’s a freelance scientist who doesn’t show her face internationally. Due to her personal interests, she considers us, her work partners, as research subjects.”

‘By the way, the holder of Gate Number One is a ‘she’.’

“Even so, I feel like she’s more like our babysitter,” the senior chuckled, then turned to me. “She basically takes care of anything related to us. When she examined Ping-chan while you were lying in bed, she said that Ping-chan’s power had been unconsciously channeled into physical enhancement.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” I asked, disregarding the new nickname ‘Ping-chan’ for the moment, sensing that I had just heard something crucial.

“Come with me for a moment.”

The senior stood up, took my hand, and led me to the railing at the edge of the rooftop. From here, we could see students on the sports field below, engaged in physical education.

“Try to squeeze the railing.”

The senior pointed at the railing, instructing me to follow her directions.

Though still perplexed, I extended my right hand, gripped the railing, and squeezed. ‘Could I really crush this railing?’ I wondered, gradually increasing my strength.

****

‘I had overthought it…’ The iron railing remained perfectly still; nothing happened. My hand still on the railing, I turned to ask the senior.

“Senpai, wha—ah-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-oh yeah

“N-no, I’m just saying that I don’t know much about social etiquette for elders, so I’ll just smile and shake her hand back for now.”

“There’s no need to be so formal, you can call me Samidare, or Ruka, or even Number Three. But if you can, ‘Big Sister’ would be even better!!!” The senior kept holding my hand, smiling as she swiftly brought her face closer.

‘So close! Our noses are practically touching!’

Caught under such close scrutiny by another girl, I instinctively averted my gaze, a flush creeping up my cheeks.

“H-h-how could I possibly dare? I, I’ll just call you Senpai, like Leidi. Also, Senpai, do the Gates have numbers?” Still being watched, I didn’t dare turn my face forward, smiling a little awkwardly.

“They do, indeed. The Gate numbers are determined by the order in which they were created. Your Gate, and Leidi’s, is Number Four.”

The senior leaned in, tilting her face just so, and softly blew a wisp of air into my ear.

“W-wah—!!!” A sudden shiver ran through me, and my face instantly flared crimson, right to the tips of my ears.

“Senpai, please don’t tease her like that. This child gets shy easily,” Leidi interjected, his hands grasping my shoulders as he promptly pulled me back.

‘While I was grateful for his timely intervention, what exactly did he mean by “this child”?! I’m practically your age, if not older—I don’t even know my precise birth date, so I might very well be older than you.’

“Oh? Leidi, you’re really starting to sound like a big sister,” the senior remarked, a wicked smile playing on her lips.

‘Did she, too, know Leidi’s true gender? I resolved to ask Leidi about it later.’

The senior gestured for us to sit on a long bench positioned beside the iron railing. We settled down in the order of ‘Senpai, Leidi, and me.’

‘Odd. What exactly were these benches doing on a rooftop?’

I glanced around, noting that it wasn’t just a single bench. This was markedly different from schools in China. Then again… Chinese school buildings often lacked railings entirely, if I recalled correctly.

“I have something special for you both today,” the senior announced, her voice drawing my attention back to her.

“Ta-da! A veritable sack of welcome gifts!” The senior declared, her grin wide as she theatrically produced a cylindrical brown fabric bag.

****

Leidi and I, still seated on the bench, silently exchanged glances, blinking in unison as we processed the senior’s recent actions.

‘This bag… where had it appeared from?’

‘I was absolutely certain that mere seconds ago, it had only been the three of us: me, Leidi, and the senior! The entirely open surroundings offered nowhere for a bag to be casually placed, nor was there sufficient space beneath the bench to conceal such a substantial cylindrical package. If a girl’s skirt were considered an alternate dimension, then how could this senior, clad in ultra-short athletic shorts, possibly account for its sudden appearance?!’

“S-Senpai, this bag…?” I inquired cautiously, desperate for an explanation.

“Well, since we’ll be working together from now on, these are welcome gifts for both of you from the other Gate holders, myself included.” The senior, however, seemed to entirely miss the point of my question.

“No, that’s not it. We’re trying to figure out where this bag actually *came from*? We definitely didn’t see it a moment ago…” Leidi clarified.

“Oh~ you’ll find out about that later,” the senior replied, her smile unwavering as she completely disregarded our persistent questions. “For now, let’s just open the gifts.”

‘My curiosity only intensified… but I decided to drop the matter. It was clear the senior had no intention of revealing her secret just yet.’

Resting the cylindrical bag on her lap, the senior began rummaging through its contents.

“Aha! Found them!”

The senior’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction, and from within the bag, she produced two small objects…

‘Copper coins?!’

‘The kind with a square hole in the center, at that.’

The senior narrowed her eyes, delicately pinching the two copper coins between her fingers before carefully handing one to me and the other to Leidi.

Picking it up, I observed that the copper coin was only marginally larger than my thumb. Its pristine condition, devoid of any rust or scent, immediately suggested it was far from an ancient artifact. My suspicion was comically confirmed by the words “MADE IN CHINA” stamped around the square hole, utterly shattering any illusion of antiquity.

‘MADE IN CHINA… the immersion wasn’t just slightly broken; it was annihilated.’

I couldn’t suppress a burst of laughter.

“Oh, come on, you two, stop laughing,” the senior chided, though a telltale giggle escaped her own lips.

“Don’t let its rather amusing appearance deceive you; this item is actually quite practical.”

Leidi and I turned to face the senior, our laughter still bubbling forth.

“What exactly is it for?” My voice wavered, thick with suppressed mirth.

Leidi asked, clutching his stomach with one hand, evidently having laughed himself sore.

“The holder of Gate Number Two has specially treated these two copper coins,” the senior explained, a smile playing on her lips. “If you carry them, they can prevent ghosts and spirits from possessing you.”

“So, there really are ghosts in this world?” I asked, my laughter abruptly ceasing as I adopted a serious demeanor.

“If there are gods, is it really so strange for there to be ghosts?” Leidi and the senior retorted in unison, striking me with their logical comeback.

“Y-yes, I suppose you’re right, ha, haha,” I conceded, forcing a weak laugh.

The senior turned her attention back to the bag, rummaging through its depths once more. This time, she retrieved two considerably larger objects…

“Huh?!”

The senior produced two long, green, cylindrical items…

‘Two sections of bamboo?!’

The senior handed us the bamboo sections, each roughly the size of a tall drinking glass, with one end sealed by a wooden stopper.

“These bamboo sections are a gift from me, the holder of Gate Number Three,” the senior announced, her face practically glowing with an unspoken demand for praise. “They can be used to seal away yokai and preserve souls!”

“This truly feels like an extraordinary item…” I managed to exclaim, so astonished that I could offer little more than this simple observation. This thing was actually a sealing tool!

‘However… compared to the ghost-repelling copper coins, these bamboo sections seemed distinctly less practical for us, didn’t they?’

I turned to look at Leidi. While his expression mirrored my own ‘how do I use this’ bewilderment, he nevertheless seemed quite intrigued by the item.

“Don’t you like them?” the senior asked, leaning closer, a touch of dejection coloring her voice.

“Well… Senpai, we wouldn’t know how to use them,” Leidi admitted with a wry smile.

‘It was better to be honest about this; there was no point in putting on airs.’

“You could even use them as water flasks…”

The senior’s expression was utterly pathetic, pleading ‘please don’t throw them away…’ This adorable contrast in her demeanor was incredibly endearing.

“Yes, we’ll certainly use them as water flasks,” I affirmed with a smile, assuring her that we would not waste her kind gesture.

“Thank you!”

“Wow!” ×2

The senior lunged horizontally across the bench, embracing both Leidi and me. Evidently, she was overjoyed that we had accepted her gifts.

“W-w-what about the next gift?”

Leidi, sandwiched between us, strained his neck, his face flushed and his breathing labored. I, too, was nearing my limit.

“Oh~ I’ll get them for you.”

Perhaps sensing that she was squeezing us too tightly, the senior released us quite abruptly. Her strength was truly remarkable.

This time, the senior pulled out a pile of black and white items from the bag, which appeared to be wristbands.

She separated the white ones for me and gave the black ones to Leidi. There were four of each.

“Senpai, what are these wristbands for?” I asked, my anticipation rising, wondering what magical properties these possessed.

“You two aren’t very familiar with the other Gate holders, are you?”

“No.” ×2, After all, we had only recently been embroiled in all this.

“These wristbands were created by the holder of Gate Number One,” the senior explained earnestly. “She’s a freelance scientist who doesn’t show her face internationally. Due to her personal interests, she considers us, her work partners, as research subjects.”

“Even so, I feel like she’s more like our babysitter,” the senior chuckled, then turned to me. “She basically takes care of anything related to us. When she examined Ping-chan while you were lying in bed, she said that Ping-chan’s power had been unconsciously channeled into physical enhancement.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” I asked, disregarding the new nickname ‘Ping-chan’ for the moment, sensing that I had just heard something crucial.

“Come with me for a moment.”

The senior stood up, took my hand, and led me to the railing at the edge of the rooftop. From here, we could see students on the sports field below, engaged in physical education.

“Try to squeeze the railing.”

The senior pointed at the railing, instructing me to follow her directions.

Though still perplexed, I extended my right hand, gripped the railing, and squeezed. ‘Could I really crush this railing?’ I wondered, gradually increasing my strength.

****

‘I had overthought it…’ The iron railing remained perfectly still; nothing happened. My hand still on the railing, I turned to ask the senior.

“Senpai, wha—ah-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-oh yeah

“N-no, I’m just saying that I don’t know much about social etiquette for elders, so I’ll just smile and shake her hand back for now.”

“There’s no need to be so formal, you can call me Samidare, or Ruka, or even Number Three. But if you can, ‘Big Sister’ would be even better!!!” The senior kept holding my hand, smiling as she swiftly brought her face closer.

‘So close! Our noses are practically touching!’

Caught under such close scrutiny by another girl, I instinctively averted my gaze, a flush creeping up my cheeks.

“H-h-how could I possibly dare? I, I’ll just call you Senpai, like Leidi. Also, Senpai, do the Gates have numbers?” Still being watched, I didn’t dare turn my face forward, smiling a little awkwardly.

“They do, indeed. The Gate numbers are determined by the order in which they were created. Your Gate, and Leidi’s, is Number Four.”

The senior leaned in, tilting her face just so, and softly blew a wisp of air into my ear.

“W-wah—!!!” A sudden shiver ran through me, and my face instantly flared crimson, right to the tips of my ears.

“Senpai, please don’t tease her like that. This child gets shy easily,” Leidi interjected, his hands grasping my shoulders as he promptly pulled me back.

‘While I was grateful for his timely intervention, what exactly did he mean by “this child”?! I’m practically your age, if not older—I don’t even know my precise birth date, so I might very well be older than you.’

“Oh? Leidi, you’re really starting to sound like a big sister,” the senior remarked, a wicked smile playing on her lips.

‘Did she, too, know Leidi’s true gender? I resolved to ask Leidi about it later.’

The senior gestured for us to sit on a long bench positioned beside the iron railing. We settled down in the order of ‘Senpai, Leidi, and me.’

‘Odd. What exactly were these benches doing on a rooftop?’

I glanced around, noting that it wasn’t just a single bench. This was markedly different from schools in China. Then again… Chinese school buildings often lacked railings entirely, if I recalled correctly.

“I have something special for you both today,” the senior announced, her voice drawing my attention back to her.

“Ta-da! A veritable sack of welcome gifts!” The senior declared, her grin wide as she theatrically produced a cylindrical brown fabric bag.

****

Leidi and I, still seated on the bench, silently exchanged glances, blinking in unison as we processed the senior’s recent actions.

‘This bag… where had it appeared from?’

‘I was absolutely certain that mere seconds ago, it had only been the three of us: me, Leidi, and the senior! The entirely open surroundings offered nowhere for a bag to be casually placed, nor was there sufficient space beneath the bench to conceal such a substantial cylindrical package. If a girl’s skirt were considered an alternate dimension, then how could this senior, clad in ultra-short athletic shorts, possibly account for its sudden appearance?!’

“S-Senpai, this bag…?” I inquired cautiously, desperate for an explanation.

“Well, since we’ll be working together from now on, these are welcome gifts for both of you from the other Gate holders, myself included.” The senior, however, seemed to entirely miss the point of my question.

“No, that’s not it. We’re trying to figure out where this bag actually *came from*? We definitely didn’t see it a moment ago…” Leidi clarified.

“Oh~ you’ll find out about that later,” the senior replied, her smile unwavering as she completely disregarded our persistent questions. “For now, let’s just open the gifts.”

‘My curiosity only intensified… but I decided to drop the matter. It was clear the senior had no intention of revealing her secret just yet.’

Resting the cylindrical bag on her lap, the senior began rummaging through its contents.

“Aha! Found them!”

The senior’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction, and from within the bag, she produced two small objects…

‘Copper coins?!’

‘The kind with a square hole in the center, at that.’

The senior narrowed her eyes, delicately pinching the two copper coins between her fingers before carefully handing one to me and the other to Leidi.

Picking it up, I observed that the copper coin was only marginally larger than my thumb. Its pristine condition, devoid of any rust or scent, immediately suggested it was far from an ancient artifact. My suspicion was comically confirmed by the words “MADE IN CHINA” stamped around the square hole, utterly shattering any illusion of antiquity.

‘MADE IN CHINA… the immersion wasn’t just slightly broken; it was annihilated.’

I couldn’t suppress a burst of laughter.

“Oh, come on, you two, stop laughing,” the senior chided, though a telltale giggle escaped her own lips.

“Don’t let its rather amusing appearance deceive you; this item is actually quite practical.”

Leidi and I turned to face the senior, our laughter still bubbling forth.

“What exactly is it for?” My voice wavered, thick with suppressed mirth.

Leidi asked, clutching his stomach with one hand, evidently having laughed himself sore.

“The holder of Gate Number Two has specially treated these two copper coins. Carrying them will prevent ghosts and spirits from possessing you,” the senior explained with a smile.

“So there really are ghosts in the world?” I asked, my laughter abruptly ceasing as I adopted a serious demeanor.

“If there are gods, is it really so strange for there to be ghosts?” Leidi and the senior retorted in unison, striking me with their logical comeback.

“Y-yes, I suppose you’re right, ha, haha,” I conceded, forcing a weak laugh.

The senior turned her attention back to the bag, rummaging through its depths once more. This time, she retrieved two considerably larger objects…

“Huh?!”

The senior produced two long, green, cylindrical items…

‘Two sections of bamboo?!’

The senior handed us the bamboo sections, each roughly the size of a tall drinking glass, with one end sealed by a wooden stopper.

“These bamboo sections are a gift from me, the holder of Gate Number Three,” the senior announced, her face practically glowing with an unspoken demand for praise. “They can be used to seal away yokai and preserve souls!”

“This truly feels like an extraordinary item…” I managed to exclaim, so astonished that I could offer little more than this simple observation. This thing was actually a sealing tool!

‘However… compared to the ghost-repelling copper coins, these bamboo sections seemed distinctly less practical for us, didn’t they?’

I turned to look at Leidi. While his expression mirrored my own ‘how do I use this’ bewilderment, he nevertheless seemed quite intrigued by the item.

“Don’t you like them?” the senior asked, leaning closer, a touch of dejection coloring her voice.

“Well… Senpai, we wouldn’t know how to use them,” Leidi admitted with a wry smile.

‘It was better to be honest about this; there was no point in putting on airs.’

“You could even use them as water flasks…”

The senior’s expression was utterly pathetic, pleading ‘please don’t throw them away…’ This adorable contrast in her demeanor was incredibly endearing.

“Yes, we’ll certainly use them as water flasks,” I affirmed with a smile, assuring her that we would not waste her kind gesture.

“Thank you!”

“Wow!” ×2

The senior lunged horizontally across the bench, embracing both Leidi and me. Evidently, she was overjoyed that we had accepted her gifts.

“W-w-what about the next gift?”

Leidi, sandwiched between us, strained his neck, his face flushed and his breathing labored. I, too, was nearing my limit.

“Oh~ I’ll get them for you.”

Perhaps sensing that she was squeezing us too tightly, the senior released us quite abruptly. Her strength was truly remarkable.

This time, the senior pulled out a pile of black and white items from the bag, which appeared to be wristbands.

She separated the white ones for me and gave the black ones to Leidi. There were four of each.

“Senpai, what are these wristbands for?” I asked, my anticipation rising, wondering what magical properties these possessed.

“You two aren’t very familiar with the other Gate holders, are you?”

“No.” ×2, After all, we had only recently been embroiled in all this.

“These wristbands were created by the holder of Gate Number One,” the senior explained earnestly. “She’s a freelance scientist who doesn’t show her face internationally. Due to her personal interests, she considers us, her work partners, as research subjects.”

“Even so, I feel like she’s more like our babysitter,” the senior chuckled, then turned to me. “She basically takes care of anything related to us. When she examined Ping-chan while you were lying in bed, she said that Ping-chan’s power had been unconsciously channeled into physical enhancement.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” I asked, disregarding the new nickname ‘Ping-chan’ for the moment, sensing that I had just heard something crucial.

“Come with me for a moment.”

The senior stood up, took my hand, and led me to the railing at the edge of the rooftop. From here, we could see students on the sports field below, engaged in physical education.

“Try to squeeze the railing.”

The senior pointed at the railing, instructing me to follow her directions.

Though still perplexed, I extended my right hand, gripped the railing, and squeezed. ‘Could I really crush this railing?’ I wondered, gradually increasing my strength.

****

‘I had overthought it…’ The iron railing remained perfectly still; nothing happened. My hand still on the railing, I turned to ask the senior.

“Senpai, wha—ah-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-oh yeah

“N-no, I’m just saying that I don’t know much about social etiquette for elders, so I’ll just smile and shake her hand back for now.”

“There’s no need to be so formal, you can call me Samidare, or Ruka, or even Number Three. But if you can, ‘Big Sister’ would be even better!!!” The senior kept holding my hand, smiling as she swiftly brought her face closer.

‘So close! Our noses are practically touching!’

Caught under such close scrutiny by another girl, I instinctively averted my gaze, a flush creeping up my cheeks.

“H-h-how could I possibly dare? I, I’ll just call you Senpai, like Leidi. Also, Senpai, do the Gates have numbers?” Still being watched, I didn’t dare turn my face forward, smiling a little awkwardly.

“They do, indeed. The Gate numbers are determined by the order in which they were created. Your Gate, and Leidi’s, is Number Four.”

The senior leaned in, tilting her face just so, and softly blew a wisp of air into my ear.

“W-wah—!!!” A sudden shiver ran through me, and my face instantly flared crimson, right to the tips of my ears.

“Senpai, please don’t tease her like that. This child gets shy easily,” Leidi interjected, his hands grasping my shoulders as he promptly pulled me back.

‘While I was grateful for his timely intervention, what exactly did he mean by “this child”?! I’m practically your age, if not older—I don’t even know my precise birth date, so I might very well be older than you.’

“Oh? Leidi, you’re really starting to sound like a big sister,” the senior remarked, a wicked smile playing on her lips.

‘Did she, too, know Leidi’s true gender? I resolved to ask Leidi about it later.’

The senior gestured for us to sit on a long bench positioned beside the iron railing. We settled down in the order of ‘Senpai, Leidi, and me.’

‘Odd. What exactly were these benches doing on a rooftop?’

I glanced around, noting that it wasn’t just a single bench. This was markedly different from schools in China. Then again… Chinese school buildings often lacked railings entirely, if I recalled correctly.

“I have something special for you both today,” the senior announced, her voice drawing my attention back to her.

“Ta-da! A veritable sack of welcome gifts!” The senior declared, her grin wide as she theatrically produced a cylindrical brown fabric bag.

****

Leidi and I, still seated on the bench, silently exchanged glances, blinking in unison as we processed the senior’s recent actions.

‘This bag… where had it appeared from?’

‘I was absolutely certain that mere seconds ago, it had only been the three of us: me, Leidi, and the senior! The entirely open surroundings offered nowhere for a bag to be casually placed, nor was there sufficient space beneath the bench to conceal such a substantial cylindrical package. If a girl’s skirt were considered an alternate dimension, then how could this senior, clad in ultra-short athletic shorts, possibly account for its sudden appearance?!’

“S-Senpai, this bag…?” I inquired cautiously, desperate for an explanation.

“Well, since we’ll be working together from now on, these are welcome gifts for both of you from the other Gate holders, myself included.” The senior, however, seemed to entirely miss the point of my question.

“No, that’s not it. We’re trying to figure out where this bag actually *came from*? We definitely didn’t see it a moment ago…” Leidi clarified.

“Oh~ you’ll find out about that later,” the senior replied, her smile unwavering as she completely disregarded our persistent questions. “For now, let’s just open the gifts.”

‘My curiosity only intensified… but I decided to drop the matter. It was clear the senior had no intention of revealing her secret just yet.’

Resting the cylindrical bag on her lap, the senior began rummaging through its contents.

“Aha! Found them!”

The senior’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction, and from within the bag, she produced two small objects…

‘Copper coins?!’

‘The kind with a square hole in the center, at that.’

The senior narrowed her eyes, delicately pinching the two copper coins between her fingers before carefully handing one to me and the other to Leidi.

Picking it up, I observed that the copper coin was only marginally larger than my thumb. Its pristine condition, devoid of any rust or scent, immediately suggested it was far from an ancient artifact. My suspicion was comically confirmed by the words “MADE IN CHINA” stamped around the square hole, utterly shattering any illusion of antiquity.

‘MADE IN CHINA… the immersion wasn’t just slightly broken; it was annihilated.’

I couldn’t suppress a burst of laughter.

“Oh, come on, you two, stop laughing,” the senior chided, though a telltale giggle escaped her own lips.

“Don’t let its rather amusing appearance deceive you; this item is actually quite practical.”

Leidi and I turned to face the senior, our laughter still bubbling forth.

“What exactly is it for?” My voice wavered, thick with suppressed mirth.

Leidi asked, clutching his stomach with one hand, evidently having laughed himself sore.

“The holder of Gate Number Two has already specially treated these two copper coins,” the senior explained with a smile. “Carrying them will prevent ghosts and spirits from possessing you.”

“So there really are ghosts in the world?” I asked, my laughter abruptly ceasing as I adopted a serious demeanor.

“If there are gods, it’s not strange for there to be ghosts, is it?” Leidi and the senior retorted in unison, striking me with their logical comeback.

“Y-yes, I suppose you’re right, ha, haha,” I conceded, forcing a weak laugh.

The senior turned her attention back to the bag, rummaging through its depths once more. This time, she retrieved two considerably larger objects…

“Huh?!”

The senior produced two long, green, cylindrical items…

‘Two sections of bamboo?!’

The senior handed us the bamboo sections, each roughly the size of a tall drinking glass, with one end sealed by a wooden stopper.

“These bamboo sections are a gift from me, the holder of Gate Number Three,” the senior announced, her face practically glowing with an unspoken demand for praise. “They can be used to seal away yokai and preserve souls!”

“This truly feels like an extraordinary item…” I managed to exclaim, so astonished that I could offer little more than this simple observation. This thing was actually a sealing tool!

‘However… compared to the ghost-repelling copper coins, we clearly won’t have much use for these bamboo sections, will we?’

I turned to look at Leidi. While his expression mirrored my own ‘how do I use this’ bewilderment, he nevertheless seemed quite intrigued by the item.

“Don’t you like them?” the senior asked, leaning closer, a touch of dejection coloring her voice.

“Well… Senpai, we wouldn’t know how to use them,” Leidi admitted with a wry smile.

‘It was better to be honest about this; there’s no point in putting on airs.’

“You could even use them as water flasks…”

The senior’s expression was utterly pathetic, pleading ‘please don’t throw them away…’ This adorable contrast in her demeanor was incredibly endearing.

“Yes, we’ll certainly use them as water flasks,” I affirmed with a smile, assuring her that we would not waste her kind gesture.

“Thank you!”

“Wow!” ×2

The senior lunged horizontally across the bench, embracing both Leidi and me. Evidently, she was overjoyed that we had accepted her gifts.

“W-w-what about the next gift?”

Leidi, sandwiched between us, strained his neck, his face flushed and his breathing labored. I, too, was nearing my limit.

“Oh~ I’ll get them for you.”

Perhaps sensing that she was squeezing us too tightly, the senior released us quite abruptly. Her strength was truly remarkable.

This time, the senior pulled out a pile of black and white items from the bag, which appeared to be wristbands.

She separated the white ones for me and gave the black ones to Leidi. There were four of each.

“Senpai, what are these wristbands for?” I asked, my anticipation rising, wondering what magical properties these possessed.

“You two aren’t very familiar with the other Gate holders, are you?”

“No.” ×2, After all, we had only recently been embroiled in all this.

“These wristbands were created by the holder of Gate Number One,” the senior explained earnestly. “She’s a freelance scientist who doesn’t show her face internationally. Due to her personal interests, she considers us, her work partners, as research subjects.”

“Even so, I feel like she’s more like our babysitter,” the senior chuckled, then turned to me. “She basically takes care of anything related to us. When she examined Ping-chan while you were lying in bed, she said that Ping-chan’s power had been unconsciously channeled into physical enhancement.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” I asked, disregarding the new nickname ‘Ping-chan’ for the moment, sensing that I had just heard something crucial.

“Come with me for a moment.”

The senior stood up, took my hand, and led me to the railing at the edge of the rooftop. From here, we could see students on the sports field below, engaged in physical education.

“Try to squeeze the railing.”

The senior pointed at the railing, instructing me to follow her directions.

Though still perplexed, I extended my right hand, gripped the railing, and squeezed. ‘Could I really crush this railing?’ I wondered, gradually increasing my strength.

****

‘I had overthought it…’ The iron railing remained perfectly still; nothing happened. My hand still on the railing, I turned to ask the senior.

“Senpai, wha—ah-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-oh yeah

“N-no, I’m just saying that I don’t know much about social etiquette for elders, so I’ll just smile and shake her hand back for now.”

“There’s no need to be so formal, you can call me Samidare, or Ruka, or even Number Three. But if you can, ‘Big Sister’ would be even better!!!” The senior kept holding my hand, smiling as she swiftly brought her face closer.

‘So close! Our noses are practically touching!’

Caught under such close scrutiny by another girl, I instinctively averted my gaze, a flush creeping up my cheeks.

“H-h-how could I possibly dare? I, I’ll just call you Senpai, like Leidi. Also, Senpai, do the Gates have numbers?” Still being watched, I didn’t dare turn my face forward, smiling a little awkwardly.

“They do, indeed. The Gate numbers are determined by the order in which they were created. Your Gate, and Leidi’s, is Number Four.”

The senior leaned in, tilting her face just so, and softly blew a wisp of air into my ear.

“W-wah—!!!” A sudden shiver ran through me, and my face instantly flared crimson, right to the tips of my ears.

“Senpai, please don’t tease her like that. This child gets shy easily,” Leidi interjected, his hands grasping my shoulders as he promptly pulled me back.

‘While I was grateful for his timely intervention, what exactly did he mean by “this child”?! I’m practically your age, if not older—I don’t even know my precise birth date, so I might very well be older than you.’

“Oh? Leidi, you’re really starting to sound like a big sister,” the senior remarked, a wicked smile playing on her lips.

‘Did she, too, know Leidi’s true gender? I resolved to ask Leidi about it later.’

The senior gestured for us to sit on a long bench positioned beside the iron railing. We settled down in the order of ‘Senpai, Leidi, and me.’

‘Odd. What exactly were these benches doing on a rooftop?’

I glanced around, noting that it wasn’t just a single bench. This was markedly different from schools in China. Then again… Chinese school buildings often lacked railings entirely, if I recalled correctly.

“I have something special for you both today,” the senior announced, her voice drawing my attention back to her.

“Ta-da! A veritable sack of welcome gifts!” The senior declared, her grin wide as she theatrically produced a cylindrical brown fabric bag.

****

Leidi and I, still seated on the bench, silently exchanged glances, blinking in unison as we processed the senior’s recent actions.

‘This bag… where had it appeared from?’

‘I was absolutely certain that mere seconds ago, it had only been the three of us: me, Leidi, and the senior! The entirely open surroundings offered nowhere for a bag to be casually placed, nor was there sufficient space beneath the bench to conceal such a substantial cylindrical package. If a girl’s skirt were considered an alternate dimension, then how could this senior, clad in ultra-short athletic shorts, possibly account for its sudden appearance?!’

“S-Senpai, this bag…?” I inquired cautiously, desperate for an explanation.

“Well, since we’ll be working together from now on, these are welcome gifts for both of you from the other Gate holders, myself included.” The senior, however, seemed to entirely miss the point of my question.

“No, that’s not it. We’re trying to figure out where this bag actually *came from*? We definitely didn’t see it a moment ago…” Leidi clarified.

“Oh~ you’ll find out about that later,” the senior replied, her smile unwavering as she completely disregarded our persistent questions. “For now, let’s just open the gifts.”

‘My curiosity only intensified… but I decided to drop the matter. It was clear the senior had no intention of revealing her secret just yet.’

Resting the cylindrical bag on her lap, the senior began rummaging through its contents.

“Aha! Found them!”

The senior’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction, and from within the bag, she produced two small objects…

‘Copper coins?!’

‘The kind with a square hole in the center, at that.’

The senior narrowed her eyes, delicately pinching the two copper coins between her fingers before carefully handing one to me and the other to Leidi.

Picking it up, I observed that the copper coin was only marginally larger than my thumb. Its pristine condition, devoid of any rust or scent, immediately suggested it was far from an ancient artifact. My suspicion was comically confirmed by the words “MADE IN CHINA” stamped around the square hole, utterly shattering any illusion of antiquity.

‘MADE IN CHINA… the immersion wasn’t just slightly broken; it was annihilated.’

I couldn’t suppress a burst of laughter.

“Oh, come on, you two, stop laughing,” the senior chided, though a telltale giggle escaped her own lips.

“Don’t let its rather amusing appearance deceive you; this item is actually quite practical.”

Leidi and I turned to face the senior, our laughter still bubbling forth.

“What exactly is it for?” My voice wavered, thick with suppressed mirth.

Leidi asked, clutching his stomach with one hand, evidently having laughed himself sore.

“The holder of Gate Number Two has already specially treated these two copper coins,” the senior explained with a smile. “Carrying them will prevent ghosts and spirits from possessing you.”

“So there really are ghosts in the world?” I asked, my laughter abruptly ceasing as I adopted a serious demeanor.

“If there are gods, it’s not strange for there to be ghosts, is it?” Leidi and the senior retorted in unison, striking me with their logical comeback.

“Y-yes, I suppose you’re right, ha, haha,” I conceded, forcing a weak laugh.

The senior turned her attention back to the bag, rummaging through its depths once more. This time, she retrieved two considerably larger objects…

“Huh?!”

The senior produced two long, green, cylindrical items…

‘Two sections of bamboo?!’

The senior handed us the bamboo sections, each roughly the size of a tall drinking glass, with one end sealed by a wooden stopper.

“These bamboo sections are a gift from me, the holder of Gate Number Three,” the senior announced, her face practically glowing with an unspoken demand for praise. “They can be used to seal away yokai and preserve souls!”

“This truly feels like an extraordinary item…” I managed to exclaim, so astonished that I could offer little more than this simple observation. This thing was actually a sealing tool!

‘However… compared to the ghost-repelling copper coins, these bamboo sections seemed distinctly less practical for us, didn’t they?’

I turned to look at Leidi. While his expression mirrored my own ‘how do I use this’ bewilderment, he nevertheless seemed quite intrigued by the item.

“Don’t you like them?” the senior asked, leaning closer, a touch of dejection coloring her voice.

“Well… Senpai, we wouldn’t know how to use them,” Leidi admitted with a wry smile.

‘It was better to be honest about this; there’s no point in putting on airs.’

“You could even use them as water flasks…”

The senior’s expression was utterly pathetic, pleading ‘please don’t throw them away…’ This adorable contrast in her demeanor was incredibly endearing.

“Yes, we’ll certainly use them as water flasks,” I affirmed with a smile, assuring her that we would not waste her kind gesture.

“Thank you!”

“Wow!” ×2

The senior lunged horizontally across the bench, embracing both Leidi and me. Evidently, she was overjoyed that we had accepted her gifts.

“W-w-what about the next gift?”

Leidi, sandwiched between us, strained his neck, his face flushed and his breathing labored. I, too, was nearing my limit.

“Oh~ I’ll get them for you.”

Perhaps sensing that she was squeezing us too tightly, the senior released us quite abruptly. Her strength was truly remarkable.

This time, the senior pulled out a pile of black and white items from the bag, which appeared to be wristbands.

She separated the white ones for me and gave the black ones to Leidi. There were four of each.

“Senpai, what are these wristbands for?” I asked, my anticipation rising, wondering what magical properties these possessed.

“You two aren’t very familiar with the other Gate holders, are you?”

“No.” ×2, After all, we had only recently been embroiled in all this.

“These wristbands were created by the holder of Gate Number One,” the senior explained earnestly. “She’s a freelance scientist who doesn’t show her face internationally. Due to her personal interests, she considers us, her work partners, as research subjects.”

“Even so, I feel like she’s more like our babysitter,” the senior chuckled, then turned to me. “She basically takes care of anything related to us. When she examined Ping-chan while you were lying in bed, she said that Ping-chan’s power had been unconsciously channeled into physical enhancement.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” I asked, disregarding the new nickname ‘Ping-chan’ for the moment, sensing that I had just heard something crucial.

“Come with me for a moment.”

The senior stood up, took my hand, and led me to the railing at the edge of the rooftop. From here, we could see students on the sports field below, engaged in physical education.

“Try to squeeze the railing.”

The senior pointed at the railing, instructing me to follow her directions.

Though still perplexed, I extended my right hand, gripped the railing, and squeezed. ‘Could I really crush this railing?’ I wondered, gradually increasing my strength.

****

‘I had overthought it…’ The iron railing remained perfectly still; nothing happened. My hand still on the railing, I turned to ask the senior.

“Senpai, wha—ah-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-Uh-oh, it seems like the translation was cut off prematurely. I will complete the translation based on the last full sentence and then provide the full JSON output.“`json{