The air in the old section of the school was stale, thick with dust that clung to Kōki's throat every time he breathed. The broken windows let in slivers of fading sunlight, strips of orange spilling weakly across the cracked wooden floor. The rest of the hallway was drowned in shadows. The faint smell of mold gnawed at his nose, mixing with the scent of damp wood.
"If she's really a ghost, then why are you running from her?" Kōki muttered, glancing nervously over his shoulder.
Sayoko drifted along at his side, her faint outline shimmering like heat. She folded her arms, leaning closer as though scolding him. "If she's not a ghost, Kōki-kun, she's going to think it's super weird that you're in here talking to yourself. So keep it together and act normal."
"That's impossible. She's going to think I'm weird no matter what," Kōki whispered back, his voice tight. "What kind of person hangs out in a creepy, dusty place like this alone?" His eyes flicked to the doorway at the end of the hallway.
The sound of footsteps echoed against the wooden planks. Each step drew nearer, sharp and steady.
"She's coming…"
Kōki's shoulders tensed. The air felt colder. His eyes strained in the dim light as the figure appeared at the edge of the hall.
Her long silver hair draped past her shoulders, swaying with each step. Her skin was pale, the kind of color that looked almost gray when caught in shadows. Dark circles outlined her large, unblinking eyes, giving her an eerie stillness. She walked slowly, her gaze locked straight on him.
Sayoko tilted her head, lowering her voice. "She doesn't blink… creepy."
Takuto floated closer, his expression stiff. "That's not normal at all. Be careful, Kōki."
The girl finally stopped in front of him. Her voice came low, smooth, and steady. "Wait… you're Takeda, aren't you?"
Kōki swallowed hard, forcing a small smile. "Uh… yeah. That's me." His body shifted backward without thinking, one foot dragging against the wooden floor. Her expressionless stare, paired with the hoodie draped over her school uniform, only tightened the knot in his chest.
"Yep. She's scary," Sayoko said sing-song, hovering close to his shoulder.
Kōki whispered quickly, his voice barely audible. "Can you two check? See if she's alive or not? I can't tell… You know I can't tell the difference."
Kureha's eyes flickered, her voice cutting in sharply. "Who are you talking to?" She had moved closer—too close. She was right in front of his face now, her breath brushing faintly against his cheek.
Kōki's heart jumped. He stumbled back, waving his hands nervously. "N-No one! I mean—yeah, I'm just here alone. Totally alone." He forced a laugh, scratching the back of his head, his smile stiff.
Sayoko floated forward with Takuto. "Alright, let's see."
Takuto reached out, his hand passing straight through her arm like air. "Huh…? Wait, that didn't work."
Sayoko placed her hand forward too. Her fingers slipped right through Kureha's shoulder without resistance. She smirked. "Relax, Kōki-kun. She's human. The look on your face was hilarious though."
Takuto snorted. "If she's human, then she's one seriously creepy one. Honestly, she could pass for a zombie."
Kōki exhaled sharply, trying to steady his breathing. "Human… That's good. That's… really good." His chest loosened, but not by much.
He tried to shift the conversation. "Um… I didn't catch your name."
The girl's lips curved faintly. "Kureha Kurobane. I thought you'd know that already. We've been in the same class since junior high."
Kōki blinked. "Oh… so you're in my class? Sorry. I, uh… don't really remember you."
Kureha tilted her head slightly. The faint smile she gave didn't feel warm—it felt sharp, like she was waiting for him to slip up. Her wide eyes didn't waver.
"So, Takeda," she said softly, "what are you doing here? In the abandoned part of the building, all by yourself? During break?"
Sweat prickled the back of Kōki's neck. His fingers twitched at his sides. What do I even say…?
Takuto whispered fast. "Tell her you come here because you like gloomy places. Just say it. Dark and gloomy. Go."
Kōki forced the words out. "Well… I like being alone. It's quiet here. Dark. Gloomy. That's… comforting for me."
"Oh, I see." Kureha's voice lowered. "So you like gloomy places… just like me." Her lips curled into another strange smile.
Kōki scratched his head, his throat dry. "Well… yeah, I guess you could say that." His legs twitched with the urge to run, but her steady stare pinned him in place.
Then she leaned forward just slightly, her words barely above a whisper. "Earlier today, on my way to school, I saw you."
Kōki stiffened. "Saw me…?"
"Yes." Her eyes stayed on his. "You were walking alone. But you were talking. Not muttering. Talking. You were answering someone… someone that wasn't there."
Sayoko and Takuto exchanged nervous looks.
She was watching me? Kōki's chest tightened, his breath shallow.
Kureha continued, her tone calm but pressing. "During the exam, you shouted. You disturbed the class. Then, you looked like you were… listening. Responding. You kept nodding. Kept saying things like, 'Yes,' 'Okay,' 'That makes sense.' As if you were having a whole conversation."
Kōki's stomach sank. His palms grew damp with sweat. She saw everything… She's been watching me this whole time.
Takuto hissed, his voice sharp in Kōki's ear. "This isn't good. She knows too much. Run, Kōki, before she corners you."
But Kureha didn't stop. Her wide eyes gleamed faintly in the dim light. "So tell me. Are you psychic? Can you talk to ghosts? Or are you just… insane?"
Kōki forced a nervous chuckle. "I don't follow… You're imagining things. I just… talk to myself sometimes. It helps me focus. Especially during exams."
Kureha's lips curved. "So you admit it—you do have a screw loose."
Kōki's chest tightened as Kureha's words sank in.
You're one to talk… watching me all day without me knowing. Wait— isn't she the one they call a freak in class? The girl everyone avoids or makes fun of… because they think she's a ghost? His thoughts raced, but he kept his mouth shut, too stunned to say anything aloud.
Kōki opened his mouth, but no words came out. His throat felt dry, his tongue heavy.
"W-Well, I should get going now. Classes are starting soon," he blurted instead, his voice shaky. He bent quickly, snatched the folded letter from the floor, and shoved it into his jacket. Without looking her in the eyes again, he walked past her, his pace just short of a nervous jog.
"Let's go," he muttered under his breath.
Sayoko drifted to his side, her voice light but uneasy. "That was intense, Kōki-kun. Did she really see all that?"
"I don't know," Kōki whispered back, his eyes fixed on the exit ahead. "But she's… seriously weird."
Takuto floated just behind, his gaze darting to the shadowy hallway.
Kureha stood where they had left her, her slender frame swallowed halfway by the dark. That faint, unsettling smile lingered on her lips.
Her voice slipped out softly, almost to herself. "I know you're here. Both of you… aren't there?"
Takuto froze in mid-air, eyes wide. "Wait—no way. Can she actually see us?"
Sayoko moved fast, shaking her head. "She's bluffing. She can't see us. But…" Her voice dropped low. "She's onto us. I'll give her that. Let's move before she corners Kōki-kun again.
"O-Okay…" Takuto stammered, quickly floating after them. He cast one last nervous glance back before following Sayoko out.
Behind them, the sound of Kureha's faint laughter seemed to seep through the shadows.
"Takeda is such a terrible liar," she whispered, her voice carrying down the empty hall. "I wonder what he's really up to… hanging out with spirits."