Learning of thieves to catch, Yukiko lit up with excitement—even Reiko urged checking the other two soda shops.
Shuichi stayed calm. "Today's for relaxing. Who knows when they'll hit the shops? If we spot them, great; otherwise, let the cops sweat it."
After over half an hour's rest, Eri and Yukiko recovered.
"Where next?" Kogoro asked.
"Haunted house," Yukiko suggested. "Yuka says it's a blast."
"H-Haunted house..." Eri forced a laugh. "What's fun about that? Pick something else."
"Tsk tsk, bookworm," Yukiko teased. "Scared of ghosts?"
"You're the scared one!" Eri balled her fists. "Ghosts don't exist—I'm just not interested."
"If you're not scared, haunted house it is!" Yukiko goaded. "Opposing means you're chicken!"
"You—!" Eri gritted her teeth. "Fine, let's go!"
...
At the haunted house entrance, Shuichi bought tickets, and the five entered.
Dim lights and branching paths amped the scares.
They hadn't gone far when Kogoro veered off—vanished.
Reiko, young and spooked by spooks, clung to her brother's hand, fearing separation.
Eri, the rational scholar, should've scoffed at ghosts. Yet her fear outdid Reiko's—she latched onto Shuichi's arm like a vice.
Yukiko, unfazed—whether bold or faking it—brushed off the gloom.
"Never pegged you for a ghost-phobe, bookworm?" Yukiko grinned.
"...So what if I am?" Eri shot back defiantly. "Everyone's got fears!"
As if on cue, a bloodied, snarling monster lunged from a corner.
Eri shrieked, crushing Shuichi in a desperate hug. Reiko mirrored her, squeezing tight.
Shuichi, ghost-proof, feared suffocation from the duo's grip.
Yukiko? Unruffled. She critiqued the "fiend" like a pro:
"This suit's worn out—cracks here, fake blood obvious. Splash on red paint water for realism, guys. Step up your game."
The actor, stunned by such a tourist, bowed instinctively after her roast.
"Gomennasai!"
Even Reiko giggled. Eri clung harder.
Yukiko spent the trek dissecting performances.
"Listening to Yukiko-neechan, I'm not scared anymore," Reiko said, emboldened.
"These ghost actors are amateurs," Yukiko sighed. "I've seen real horror sets with Mom—way scarier."
"It's a movie, remember?" Shuichi grumbled. "Amusement park can't splurge on perfection."
"True," Yukiko nodded. "Worth it, though—bookworm's ghost-phobic. Who knew? Haha..."
Eri seethed at her smugness, powerless in the dark.
They pressed on; the exit loomed, light brightening.
Nearly free, Yukiko itched at her scalp—something crawling.
She scratched. A piercing scream shattered the calm.
"Sp-Spider!" Yukiko paled, flailing wildly, but it stuck. "Help! Get it off!"
Shuichi moved to aid, but Eri yanked him back.
"Eh? Weren't you so brave? Mocking me earlier?"
"...I was wrong! Get this spider off, please! Shuichi!"
"She apologized," Shuichi eyed his childhood friend.
"Fine, I'll handle it."
Eri, tissue-shielded hand, plucked and binned the spider.
"That nearly killed me!" Yukiko wheezed, clutching her chest. "Bugs are my nightmare."
"Oh?" Eri blinked, pointing down. "Look—it's back!"
"Big spider, Yukiko-neechan—it's coming for you!" Reiko piled on.
"What?! Nooo!" Yukiko dove into Shuichi's arms. "Shuichi, shoo it away!"
"No spider," Shuichi chuckled. "They're pranking you."
"Really?" Yukiko scanned, relieved. "Bookworm, this isn't over!"
"We're even!" Eri huffed. "Payback for your ghost jabs."
"But I apologized!" Yukiko puffed her cheeks.
"No sincerity," Eri smirked. "Done here—I'm ghost-house'd out."
Out they spilled. Kogoro yawned at the door, bored.
"Finally. Lame inside—why so long?"
"Eri-neechan fears ghosts, Yukiko-neechan bugs—time suck," Reiko teased. "Kogoro-niisan, where'd you vanish to?"
"Beats me," Kogoro scratched his head. "Felt a shoulder tap—thought Shuichi. Followed, lost you, bailed solo."
"Ran into a~ gho~st~?" Yukiko intoned eerily at Eri.
"Vixen, want a spider in your skirt?!" Eri gnashed, inching toward Shuichi.
"You scared me first—we're even now!" Yukiko rushed. "Truce: no more ghosts, no bugs!"
(End of Chapter)
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