One day in February.
My unenthusiastic title call echoed through the clubroom.
"Chiba Prefecture Cross-Country Advice Email Service..."
Yuigahama claps her hands. Yukinoshita looks at me with a resigned expression.
Well, this is really annoying. Especially since it's coming all the way from Zaimokuza. Just come directly. Though I don't want you to come.
"Um, today's is from... PN: saki☆saki... who is it?"
"Sakisaki... Ah, is that Saki-chan?"
Yuigahama claps her hands together.
Ah, yes, there was someone like that, Kawabata... Kawa... Kawabata? Yasunari?
Oh, it's Yasunari!
I mean, what's with saki☆saki? Why does everyone keep putting stars on things? Are they princes or something? Ah, I want to hug Totsuka.
"Oh, that guy. And the content is..."
"My younger sister, Kei-chan, asked me to tell a funny story, but I don't know what to talk about."
When I asked what kind of stories they wanted to hear, they said scary stories. Now I'm even more confused about what to do.
Give me some good ideas.
That's so sloppy. It's really sloppy! Are your emails like this too? Even I'd be put off! I'm pretty bad myself, though! ...Pretty bad, though!
When I looked at Yuigahama and Yukinoshita, they seemed to be feeling the same way as me, with bewildered expressions on their faces.
"...Haha, it's quite fluffy..."
"A scary story... At first glance, this case seems like it would just be a matter of providing some material for a story, but coming up with a story that this sister will find interesting... looks like it's going to be quite difficult."
Despite her exasperation, Yukinoshita calmly analyzed the situation.
"Well, this isn't so much about the quality of the topic, but rather about studying the way of speaking itself. How should I go about that..."
As Yukinoshita and I racked our brains, Yuigahama, who had been watching us blankly, suddenly had an idea.
This child is thinking things through in their own way! Please try to understand them!
"I need to study how to speak... study... that's it, a study group!"
"picture?"
I involuntarily let out a startled cry.
"Let's all get together and each share a scary story we have! If you think someone's storytelling is really good, how about trying to imitate them?"
"Oh, I see. That's a really good idea, even though it sounds stupid."
"Who's the idiot?!"
"That's right, even though it's Yuigahama-san."
"Yukinon's way of saying it is actually more hurtful! It's awful!"
Yuigahama is crying. Waaaah. I'm kind of sorry.
"But that's actually a good idea. If you suddenly start watching how professionals speak, they might be so good that you don't know how to imitate them, so I think it's really effective to learn from people you know."
"Yes, with this method, the more people the better. Shall we start gathering people right away?"
"Yay! Let's get started and gather them right away! What time and place should we go?"
"If we're going to do it, it'll be more atmospheric at night, right? A place where we can have a proper conversation like that at night... like Yukinoshita's house?"
When I made the suggestion quite normally and turned to face Yukinoshita, her neck twisted back in an extremely unnatural way. ...Huh?
"...If gathering people is difficult, I can even provide a venue... so, is it alright if I go out? I've been a bit busy lately..."
The way he speaks is surprisingly, or rather, laughably, hesitant.
You're lying. If that's the case, then how can you leisurely read a book at this time of day?
...this guy...
"Yukinoshita"
"...What is it?"
I quickly reverted to my normal tone. That Ironheart...
"...You don't mean..."
"What is it?"
Stop interrupting so aggressively. Don't use such a strong tone. It's scary. What is this, a freezing wave? It's even wearing off the effect of Scurt!
But I'm going to be brave and go for it. Because it's fun!
"...Are you scared?"
"That's impossible. There's no such thing as a ghost. As the old saying goes, 'The true nature of a ghost is revealed to be a withered reed,' meaning that in dark or eerie places, people's imaginations can make them see a ghost in something as insignificant as a tree branch. And then there are those who claim to have psychic abilities..."
...She was really rattling off. I'm starting to get used to this feeling and find it kind of cute. Even though she's glaring at me. Even though she's got my heart in her throat. Heartcatch Precure!
Let's not give up and deliver the final blow.
"Okay, I'm glad you're not scared. So, Yukinoshita can participate too, right?"
Yukinoshita's movements came to a complete halt.
"...Okay, I understand...I'll participate..."
I said it in an incredibly quiet voice. It was as hard to hear as a mosquito buzz. Professor Hiratsuka probably couldn't hear it! If I tell this joke, I'll probably die!
And so, we decided to hold a ghost story competition.
I'm not going to do the Hyakumonogatari (100 ghost stories); I don't want to be taken to the underworld!
"...And so, let's begin!"
"The Midwinter Grand Ghost Story Festival"!!! (Drumroll, fanfare (by Yuigahama))
Hi everyone, your host is me, Hachiman Hikigaya, known for his rotten eyes...and his cute little sister, Komachi Hikigaya! Kyaaa☆"
...Annoying... I put 200 times the usual amount of "annoying" into this one word...
"...Why is Komachi here?"
"Yui-san called me over, hehe! She wanted something to talk about at school!"
"...No, well, it's fine, yes..."
Isn't Komachi's attendance rate unusually high in situations like this? It's fine, though, because she helps out a lot (quite a lot, even just from what I'm aware of). And she's cute.
"Even Professor Hiratsuka..."
"Oh, I was invited when I received a report about Yuigahama's activities. You see, I'm free at night..."
"N-no, I didn't invite you with that in mind, Sensei!"
...Tears...tears are welling up... I think being in your late twenties is the prime of a woman's life...! ...But I'm still in high school, so I don't really know...! I wonder if my zodiac sign is the same as yours, Sensei.
"Even though it all started with Kawasaki's email, it feels kind of fresh to see Kawasaki among this usual group."
When I looked towards Kawasaki, whom I had mistakenly identified as Yasunari, he glared at me with a displeased expression.
"...Well, I'm usually alone anyway, so it doesn't really matter where I'm mixed in."
Is that so...?
Well, glaring at her is just because she has a mean look in her eyes, and I know she'll start crying if I just get a little intimidating, so she's not as scary as she used to be. In fact, I'd like to tease her when I get the chance. Just kidding, no, sun, don't look! Totsuka Angel, don't look!
...I mean, coming to a girl's house at night, and everyone there is a girl except me...that's nice, isn't it? That's nice. Damn, the heating's on too high in this room.
"Now, let me announce how today's meeting will proceed!"
...I'll tell you scary stories in order ☆"
Hey, little sister. Are you serious?
If you didn't use line breaks, that line would end on a single line. It's not wrong, though.
"...Well, I guess there's no other choice. So, who should go first?"
With a look of exasperation on my face, I cracked my neck and looked around at everyone.
Incidentally, everyone was sitting in a circle in the living room, with cushions laid out on the floor.
All the cushions are either cats or bread... That's easy to understand, Catpedia...
"...Okay, then I'll go first. I'm the one who requested it, so I think you need to get to know what kind of person I am first, right?"
Oh, what a perfectly reasonable reason and courage. As expected of Yasunari-san.
"Okay, I'll leave it to Kawasaki."
I don't call him by his name properly in my head enough. Sorry, Nakajima. ...Isono! Let's play baseball!
① Saki Kawasaki.
"There's this person, let's call him A for now. Apparently, there was a suicide by jumping from the apartment building where he lives one day."
"Hmm hmm... Wow..."
Oh, Komachi, your responses are excellent. As expected of my little sister. There's nothing more I can do, and I don't intend to!
Yuigahama had a good reaction too. These two are similar in that respect.
Yukinoshita is... trembling with her head down? Huh, isn't that a bit early?
Is Professor Hiratsuka also looking down and trembling? Huh, surprisingly? Really?
"So the police came. The residents of the apartment building, including Ms. A, were asked to give their opinions."
However, the questions were unusually thorough for what seemed like a simple suicide, which I found unsettling.
"Where were you around 10 PM last night? Is there anyone other than a family member who can testify about that?"
It was as if a scene from a detective drama, where someone is questioned about their alibi, was recreated exactly as it was."
Komachi and Yuigahama stopped speaking and began to tremble. They stared at Kawasaki with wide eyes. They're such good viewers... Are they audience members of Iitomo? Are they getting perfect coaching from an AD during studio rehearsals?
Yukinoshita and Hiratsuka-sensei are... Chihuahuas, huh? Note to self.
"So I asked the police officer why he was asking such detailed questions. He was also a working person, so he didn't want to waste time and get tired from dealing with such unpleasant things."
Suddenly, the police officer's expression became grim.
Apparently, the person who committed suicide jumped from the rooftop, but for some reason, there were traces of their blood on the stairs, raising concerns that it might have been a homicide."
Oh... all four of them have turned into Chihuahuas... The four of them are getting closer. Why don't they just become a permanent fixture already...?
"Ms. A was released for the time being that day, but...the truth would come out later."
"Huh? What? No way, that's scary..."
It's solidified. I think it's good. Please sway it.
"...The person jumped once, but didn't die, so they climbed back up to the roof on their own and jumped again..."
"Aa
"Oh nooooo!?"
Komachi came charging at me with cat-like agility, making a cat-like noise. She made a really loud "thud." A loud "thud."
...No matter how light they are, they're still human, so this speed is insane... *cough*.
As I stroked Komachi's head, who was clinging to me and crying loudly, "I'm scared!", I made eye contact with Yuigahama.
...What, are you jealous...? What's with that longing look in your eyes? Stop it, it's making me excited! If I get an erection in this state, I'll be kicked out of the Hikigaya household!
Noticing Yuigahama's state, Komachi wiped away her tears and smiled faintly.
"...How about you, Yui? It's nice and warm, isn't it? My brother is definitely a man!"
"Eh, what!? N-no way...it's fine...it's okay..."
My sister is saying such embarrassing things.
...Wait, Yuigahama has her hands outstretched in a refusal stance and her face turned away, but her eyes are staring right at me... That's making me feel even more embarrassed...
...Just as I had been teasing Yuigahama up to this point, Komachi's face suddenly turned red, perhaps because she had suddenly become aware of my body temperature and physique.
But even then, she wouldn't let go, still clinging to me.
What is this cute creature? An angel? Oh, it's my little sister.
"...Hey, this story is scary but also really gruesome... You can't tell Kei-chan something like this, can you... Kawasaki?"
If you look closely, Kawasaki himself is trembling with tears in his eyes. Huh, what's going on?
"...I remembered this story because it was so scary, so I decided to tell it to you...but even just talking about it was terrifying...!"
...Wow, this girl is so cute.
Normally, I only use the "Petting" skill on my younger sister, Komachi, but Kawasaki was so wobbly and squirming like a little animal that the contrast with her usual self made her seem incredibly helpless and cute, and I couldn't help but pet her while still holding Komachi.
"...Huh...?"
An unexpectedly great reaction!
Hey, where did your usual delinquent character go...? It's not like you're saying "Huh...?", you're just too cute!
...Now it's not just Yuigahama, Yukinoshita is staring at me too. What, do you all want to be petted? Am I Mutsu-goro-san?
To be continued.