"So, you first woke up in the old section of the school, right?" Kōki asked, leaning back slightly, trying to gauge Sayoko's expression.
"Yes," Sayoko replied softly, hovering a little above the floor, her hands folded in front of her.
Kōki's eyes flicked toward Ayaka, his older sister. "Wait… Ayaka, was Sayoko's body ever found?" His voice pitched a little higher, a mixture of confusion and worry creeping in.
"No, it wasn't," Ayaka said, her tone calm but firm, the way she always sounded when she knew more than she let on. She brushed a strand of hair from her face, eyes never leaving his.
Kōki swallowed, feeling a lump form in his throat. "So… if her soul is here with us, that means… she's dead?"
"She was reported missing years ago," Ayaka said, folding her arms. "And based on the crime scene, forensic scientists concluded that she died. Some of the blood on the floor belonged to her."
Kōki's fingers fidgeted, drumming lightly on the edge of the desk. "I… see. Thanks for telling me."
Ayaka noticed immediately, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "I know what that means. You're up to something, Kō."
"What? Me? What are you talking about?" Kōki asked, frowning.
"Every time you were about to do something mischievous as a kid, you'd fidget with your fingers," Ayaka said, her voice softening. "Looks like old habits never die. Just… stay out of trouble, alright? And help Sayoko as much as you can. Goodnight. I have work tomorrow." She yawned and turned toward the door, the soft click of it closing echoing slightly.
Kōki leaned back, blinking, stunned. How can she stay so calm… and just go to sleep like that?
---
Later, Kōki paced the room, rubbing his face. "We'll have to check the old section of the school for clues, if there are any remains… but that's tomorrow's problem. For now, you two will have to stay outside."
"Why?" Sayoko tilted her head, floating lightly near the ceiling.
"I'm still shaken by the fact that I'm seeing ghosts—and they're talking to me," Kōki said, running a hand through his hair. "It's been a long day. I… need sleep."
"Okay, fair enough. Let's go, Takuto. We'll stay in their basement," Sayoko said, gliding toward the stairs, her glow faint in the dim light.
"Alright, that works," Takuto agreed, floating beside her.
"Wait! I said outside!" Kōki shouted, exasperated, hands on his hips.
"Relax, Kōki-kun, we won't bother you. See you in the morning," Sayoko called, drifting out of sight.
Kōki sank into a chair, running his hands over his face. Great… what have I gotten myself into?
The next morning, sunlight filtered weakly through the curtains. Kōki groaned, rubbing his eyes. "Ugh… that nightmare last night…"
Then he froze. Sayoko was floating beside him, calm as ever. His eyes widened. He scrambled backward, crashing onto the floor. "So… last night wasn't a dream," he muttered, trembling slightly.
Sayoko stayed still, her faint glow illuminating the room. Kōki got to his knees, eyes fixed on her. "She's… still as beautiful as before," he whispered, reaching toward her. His hand passed through her cheek.
"This is… weird," he muttered under his breath. "I didn't know ghosts could sleep."
"They don't," Takuto said suddenly, popping his head through the wall, smirking. "No bodies… no need for shut-eye."
"Ahhh!! Can you stop doing that?!" Kōki yelled, flinching.
"What do you mean? It's what I do," Takuto replied casually, floating in place.
"Just… stop. It's creepy," Kōki muttered, clenching his fists.
"I'm going to get ready for school," Kōki said, tugging off his shirt as he headed for the bathroom. "Do me a favor… wake her up."
"Okay," Takuto said, tilting his head as he floated near the doorway.
Kōki sank into the tub, water dripping down his arms. "What have I gotten myself into? If I hadn't followed them yesterday…" he whispered, staring at the ripples spreading across the water.
Suddenly, Sayoko floated through the wall, her face calm but curious. "Kōki-kun… was I sleeping beside you just now?"
Kōki jumped, splashing water. "W-what?! Um… could you leave the bathroom, please?" His cheeks burned red.
"I… I can see everything," Sayoko said, covering her eyes with her transparent hands, a faint blush on her cheeks.
Kōki scrambled back. "I… I didn't mind… but seriously, leave the bathroom," he stammered.
"Okay…" she said softly, floating out. Kōki exhaled sharply, running a hand through his wet hair. "Jeez… what is happening to me?"
On the way to school, Kōki walked between Sayoko and Takuto. Sayoko floated slightly behind him, humming softly, her presence light but noticeable.
"I can't wait to figure out how I… ended up like this," Sayoko said cheerfully, her voice carrying a lightness that contrasted with Kōki's tense steps.
Kōki sighed, clenching his fists inside his pockets. "I hate to ruin your mood, Sayoko, but that's not something we can deal with right now," he said, irritation threading his tone.
"Why not now?" Sayoko tilted her head, her translucent hair swaying as she hovered.
"Because I have an exam today," Kōki snapped, the words sharp. "And thanks to you two, I completely forgot about it yesterday. I barely had a chance to review anything!"
Takuto drifted ahead of them, arms crossed. "It's your own fault for being such a coward," he said flatly, voice echoing slightly in the early morning air.
Kōki shot back, his jaw tightening. "Who wouldn't be freaked out by what I saw yesterday, you homewrecker?" His words came out sharper than intended, his stomach twisting with frustration.
The sound of the school bell rang through the streets just as they reached the entrance. Kōki hurried inside, his shoes squeaking faintly against the polished floor. His heartbeat felt loud in his ears, thoughts still tangled with what had happened the previous day.
Inside the classroom, whispers flickered like a low current through the rows of students.
"I'm surprised he even showed up for the exam after skipping class yesterday," a girl whispered, her voice barely audible over the rustling of papers.
"Well, that's Kōki we're talking about," another muttered.
"Silence! No talking during exams. That's an automatic fail," Ms. Kurosawa's sharp voice cut through the room.
"R-right, sorry, Ms. Kurosawa," the students chorused, heads dipping.
Ms. Kurosawa started handing out exam papers, moving carefully from desk to desk. When she reached Kōki, he avoided eye contact, staring down at the edge of his desk.
"Kōki, I remember you left the classroom yesterday, saying you were going to the bathroom… and you never came back," Ms. Kurosawa said, her gaze steady. "I hope the time you missed was spent preparing for this exam. Otherwise, detention will be unavoidable."
Kōki swallowed, nodding quickly. "Y-yes, Ms. Kurosawa," he muttered, shifting uneasily in his seat.
She returned to the front, setting down a stack of papers. "You have an hour to complete the exam. Begin."
The sound of paper shuffling and pens scratching filled the room. Some students groaned quietly, others tapped their pens anxiously, while a few stared at their papers blankly, eyes wide.
Kōki rubbed his temple with one hand, eyes scanning the first question. "I should be able to answer these… if not for… those ghosts," he muttered under his breath, his pencil hovering uncertainly above the paper. "What the heck is the answer?"
"Not as smart as you make yourself out to be, huh, Kōki?" Takuto teased, voice low enough for only Kōki to hear. "How are you supposed to help her pass on if you can't even handle these equations?"
Kōki slammed his pencil down, exasperation flashing across his face. "Shut up! I'm trying to focus!" The volume made a few heads turn toward him, and his ears burned as he realized how loud he'd been.
He exhaled shakily, lowering his head. "I'm screwed… I don't know a single thing on this paper," he muttered, the corners of his mouth tightening.
A soft, confident voice floated beside him. "The answer is B."
Kōki looked up sharply. Sayoko hovered just above his shoulder, her hand brushing the air over the paper.
"Are you sure?" Kōki whispered, still hesitant.
"Trust me," Sayoko replied, a small smile curling her lips.
His pencil moved almost on its own as he shaded in B. Throughout the next few minutes, Sayoko guided him quietly. Her finger traced invisible lines above the page, pointing out answers and nudging him when he paused too long on a question.
Kōki's brow furrowed as he followed her guidance, slowly filling in the rest of the exam. "Hmm… okay, I see how that works," he muttered, scratching out one of his earlier wrong guesses.
Finally, Sayoko floated up and gave a small, approving nod. "And… done. See? That wasn't so hard, was it?" She reached out as if to pat his head, but her hand passed harmlessly through him.
Kōki let out a small laugh, a genuine smile spreading across his face for the first time that morning. "Yeah… thanks to you."
The classroom clock ticked loudly, and Ms. Kurosawa's voice cut through again. "Time's up! All pens down."
She moved through the rows, collecting papers. "Wow, Kōki, looks like you actually studied," she said, glancing at him briefly with a hint of surprise. "I'm impressed."
"I wonder how Ms. Kurosawa would react if she knew a dead girl helped you with the exam," Takuto teased, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Now that is what I call elite-level cheating."
Kōki's ears heated, and he shot Takuto a sharp look, his fingers tightening around the strap of his bag. "Ugh… seriously, just shut up and get a life," he muttered, the corner of his mouth twitching in irritation.
As the bell rang, Kōki, Sayoko, and Takuto made their way toward the old section of the school, the echo of their footsteps mingling with the faint hum of the morning breeze.
Unseen, a timid girl watched from behind a cluster of lockers. Her skin was pale, her shoulders slightly hunched as if the weight of the world rested on them. Dark circles framed her tired eyes, bangs hanging low over her face. She took a careful step forward, then another, following Kōki and his companions with hesitant, uneven movements.
Most of the students ignored her, labeling her as "creepy," whispering rumors as she passed by. But her gaze remained fixed on Kōki-kun, a mix of curiosity and fear in her trembling hands. Each step she took made the tiles beneath her feet squeak slightly, betraying her presence despite her efforts to remain unnoticed.