Miko Yotsuya thought this matter had some semblance of a supernatural occurrence.
"Is Sable your family dog?"
"Yes! He's very cute."
Miko nodded slightly.
Since awakening her Mystic Eyes ability, she'd discovered something.
Animals like dogs and cats have much sharper senses and vision than humans, able to perceive things invisible to people.
According to Yuigahama's account, her family dog had been well-behaved before suddenly starting to bark wildly at night, always at precisely 1 am. There might genuinely be something unusual about this.
"Is he in heat?"
After hearing Yuigahama's story, Ye Xing's eyes flickered momentarily before he waved his hand dismissively.
"A famous TV programme once said: spring is the season for mating."
This remark instantly made the two innocent high school girls, Yuigahama and Miko, blush crimson.
Yuigahama, her face slightly red, stubbornly retorted:
"M-my Sable would never think about such things!"
"Does Sable know you're speaking on his behalf?"
"A-anyway, something must be wrong!"
Yuigahama had forgotten her original purpose.
She'd initially come under the pretext of supernatural incidents just to strike up a conversation with Ye Xing and Miko.
Now she was putting the cart before the horse.
"Here's what we'll do."
Ye Xing yawned, looking somewhat lazy.
"Miko, you'll stay at Yuigahama's place tonight to investigate."
"Eh?"
Miko was taken aback.
"You want me to stay overnight at Yuigahama's house?"
Ye Xing shrugged and chuckled.
"Or should I go instead? There's the matter of propriety between men and women."
If anyone else had said this, Miko would have found it reasonable.
But coming from the usually unserious Ye Xing, she couldn't shake the feeling there was some ulterior motive.
"Miko staying over at my place? Great, great!"
Yuigahama, however, was practically jumping for joy, her cute face brimming with excitement at having a friend stay over.
Seeing things had progressed this far, Miko couldn't help but sigh and rub her forehead.
She wasn't good at handling girls like Yuigahama.
Being asked to refuse now and ruin that innocent, cheerful smile on Yuigahama's face was something Miko couldn't bring herself to do.
"Alright, but just for one night, okay?"
"OK OK! My mum will be so happy to know you're coming."
"Huh? You've told your mother about me?"
"Of course! I tell my mum about all the friends I make at school."
"Well... for my first visit, I should buy a gift."
"Let's go shopping after school, then? We can go back together afterwards."
Watching Yui Yuigahama and Miko Yotsuya chatting and laughing together, Ye Xing couldn't help but feel emotional.
The bond between girls is truly wonderful.
"By the way."
After Yui Yuigahama skipped back to her seat, Miko turned to Ye Xing and asked.
"Should we bring that sword?"
"What for? Are you planning to neuter Sable? That would be one solution."
"Don't be ridiculous. You know exactly what I mean."
Ye Xing shrugged nonchalantly.
"If you think showing up at Yuigahama's house with a sword won't make her mother think you're some kind of weirdo, then go ahead."
Miko had to admit he had a point.
"What about you tonight?"
"Old man Oda sent over some new commissions. I need to check them out."
Seeing Miko's worried expression, Ye Xing chuckled reassuringly.
"Relax, Yuigahama's place isn't remote, and there's never been any incidents. Definitely no evil spirits or spectres. Don't borrow trouble."
Miko nodded noncommittally, though for some reason, she couldn't shake the heavy feeling in her chest.
She had a vague sense that something unexpected might happen tonight.
...
Soon, evening arrived.
After accompanying Yui to the shopping district to buy some pastries as a housewarming gift, Miko found herself standing before the door of Yuigahama's apartment building.
The door was opened by a smiling young woman in an apron, her hair in a bun like Yui's, with similar facial features.
Before Miko could say anything, the woman stepped forward and gave her an enthusiastic hug.
"You must be Miko Yotsuya? Yui's told me so much about you. Welcome to our home."
"Thank you for having me."
Miko remained somewhat reserved, but she finally relaxed a little.
At least Yui's mother, though overly enthusiastic, didn't seem like a bad person.
Before entering, Miko had already observed her surroundings.
Yui's home was located in a luxurious apartment building.
In Japan, being able to afford an apartment of this size in such a location indicated considerable wealth.
Most importantly.
The area was lively.
On her way here, Miko had indeed seen "those things", but they were just ordinary spectres without harmful capabilities - not a single evil spirit in sight.
It seemed she'd been overthinking things. No supernatural incidents - just ordinary dog barking.
"Woof woof."
An adorable little brownish-yellow dog approached Miko Yotsuya with enthusiastic tail wags and tongue lolls, greeting her with cheerful barks.
"Is this Sable?"
"Yes, isn't he cute?"
Although Miko generally preferred cats, she couldn't help but like such an adorable puppy. She crouched down to pat Sable's head, her gentle smile in place.
"I wish I could communicate with you... ask what you've been barking at every night."
In response, Sable offered two plain barks.
"Woof, woof."
...
After dinner and some conversation, Yui Yuigahama retired to her room first.
Miko's mind, of course, wasn't as carefree. She kept playing with her phone, watching the numbers on the screen flicker intermittently, stubbornly fighting off sleepiness until the clock struck 12:59.
When her phone's display changed to 1:00, she felt her heart momentarily skip a beat.
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
As expected, Sable's barking echoed from the living room.
Miko took a deep breath, her golden pupils trembling slightly as she suppressed her fear and opened the bedroom door, muttering continuously to herself.
"There... there shouldn't be anything, right?"
She slowly entered the living room to find the normally well-behaved Sable baring his teeth, glaring ferociously towards the front door while emitting low, threatening growls.
"Miko, did the noise wake you too?"
Yui Yuigahama, dressed in cute pyjamas, shuffled into the living room rubbing her sleepy eyes and yawning repeatedly.
But Miko was already beyond responding, her body drenched in cold sweat.
Reflected in her golden eyes was the silhouette of a woman in a white dress.
That wasn't the most alarming part.
The most terrifying thing was...
The woman's head nearly brushed against the ceiling.
Bear in mind - this apartment's ceiling height was a full 2.5 metres!
"Ha... Hachishaku?"