Chika followed closely behind, playing the role of an innocent girl pretending to be powerful. She called out in a clear voice:
"Outlaw Zhang San, I summon you! Do you dare answer?"
The vengeful spirit in this room was a woman holding scissors, about to cut the corners of Natsuki's mouth. Suddenly, she felt her own mouth moving involuntarily:
"Zhang San is here!"
"..."
Pop.
Natsuki grabbed the spirit's shoulder. "Zhang San, you're under arrest."
They quickly searched the spirit, finding the mysterious fragment and rescuing an unlucky player in the process. The light on Chika's charm shone brightly again.
After sweeping through the area, they returned to room 404 where Natsuki had been.
Sadako snuck out when no one was looking, standing quietly in the corner with her face hidden behind black hair, emanating a chilling aura. Some new players screamed in fright, their hearts racing.
"Hey Sadako, I'm back," Natsuki greeted casually.
Hearing his voice, Sadako's hair trembled. Without a word, she tried to get to the TV again but kept getting stuck.
Natsuki walked over slowly and grabbed her waist from behind. "Huh, so thin," he thought.
"Sadako, hand over the fragments," he said firmly. "You know what'll happen if you don't."
The other players were stunned. First he bullied the cow ghost, now Sadako? Unbelievable.
Seeing the comb in Natsuki's hand, Sadako quickly gave up and silently handed over the fragments.
Before nightfall, Natsuki and his team headed to Kaguya's nightmare house to face the mirror ghost again.
The mirror ghost. Kaguya's ultimate nightmare.
The greedy snakes, pig-headed butchers, and vengeful teachers she'd faced before weren't nearly as terrifying as this ghost.
Being pulled into the mirror world alone and having her memories stolen was truly horrifying.
As soon as they reached the door, Kaguya's face went pale.
"Kaguya, Natsuki and I can go in," Chika whispered. "You can wait out here."
Their combined skill needed two people, so Natsuki and Chika had to enter no matter what.
"Forget it," Kaguya said, biting her lip. "Let's just give up on the fragments in this room."
Abandoning the side quest, hiding, and waiting for the game to end was always an option.
"We'd be safer that way," Kaguya reasoned. "And I'm on good terms with Sadako now, so we shouldn't run into trouble."
"No way," Chika shook her head. "I'm collecting all the fragments. Missing even one would drive me crazy."
"But..."
"Don't worry, I get what you're worried about," Chika said confidently. "Even if someone copies Natsuki, I'd definitely recognize him."
Kaguya thought, "Where's this confidence coming from? You barely know him!"
Chika continued, "And if someone copied me, Natsuki would recognize me, right?"
"Sorry," Natsuki said flatly. "I wouldn't be able to tell."
"Huh?"
Natsuki explained, "Chika, you're like a god. How could a mere mortal like me understand your ways?"
"That's too much!" Chika puffed her cheeks. "Are you complimenting me or insulting me? ...Oh, I've got it!"
Her eyes lit up. "I have an idea. If we use a small prop, we'll definitely be able to recognize each other, even if the mirror copies us."
"What is it?"
"That red string," Chika urged. "Natsuki, hurry and take it out."
Natsuki remembered the red rope from earlier and produced it.
[Item: Red Rope]
[Material: Unknown]
[Usage: Both parties tie the string to the same finger. When one moves their finger, the other's will move too]
[Special Effects: Not enabled]
[Warning: Use with caution. Do not use with figurines, pillows, adult toys, cats, pigeons, or other creatures. People cannot, or at least should not, use this with them.]
Reading the warning again, Natsuki's expression was... complicated.
"Natsuki," Chika looked over. "Which finger do you want to tie it to?"
"Hmm..." Natsuki hesitated. "The pinky."
The pinky was the least useful finger. When yakuza members cut off fingers, it was usually the pinky.
"Pinky it is," Chika held out her little finger. "Kaguya, help me tie the string."
Kaguya wanted to refuse but couldn't think of a good reason. It was just a normal rope for linking fingers. What excuse could she give?
Kaguya bit her lip slightly as she took the red rope and helped Chika tie it.
"I'll do Natsuki's," Chika volunteered, reaching for his hand.
Suddenly, the rope connecting their fingers vanished.
"Huh? Where'd it go?" Chika's eyes widened as she checked.
Natsuki felt his fingers move on their own. He raised his right hand, watching his fingers twitch.
"My fingers are moving by themselves!" Chika exclaimed, her pinky wiggling around. "This is so cool!"
"Alright, enough playing," Natsuki said, managing to stop his pinky's movement. "Let's head to the room."
Chika nodded. "Kaguya, wait for us out here, okay?"
They entered the ward. It was dim as ever, the air chilly.
The room was empty, no sign of the vengeful spirit. The bronze mirror sat on the table, unchanged.
"No ghost," Chika whispered, inching closer to Natsuki. "You think it's still in the mirror?"
"Probably," Natsuki nodded, picking up the mirror. "Look into it for ten seconds. Don't blink."
"Got it." Chika clenched her fists, ready for action.
The mirror was small. To fit in the reflection together, Chika had to press close to Natsuki, their arms touching.
Natsuki caught a whiff of milk, cake, and flowers from Chika. It was... nice.
After a minute, Natsuki felt a bit woozy.
"I'm feeling dizzy..." Chika's voice drifted to him as she grabbed his arm for support.
Then, a dark, hazy voice reached their ears.
"Why... why did you choose her over me?" a voice echoed.
Chika looked towards it. "Kaguya?"
"Don't be fooled," Natsuki grabbed Chika's hand. "The real Kaguya's waiting in the hall."
The girl before them looked exactly like Kaguya, but Natsuki knew it was the vengeful spirit. He'd expected it to reveal its true form, but it kept Kaguya's appearance.
The Kaguya-lookalike emerged from a dark corner, head tilted. Her pale face was stained with blood, a utility knife dripping red in her hand. Her burgundy eyes were dull, as if covered in dust.
"K-Kaguya's so scary," Chika trembled, feeling like a rabbit trapped in a wolf's den.
Natsuki was rattled too. Was this Kaguya's dark side? Behind that icy mask, there wasn't just silliness, but... obsession?
"We're the same, so why her and not me?" The dark Kaguya's eyes fixed on Natsuki, her voice a demonic whisper. "Why'd you leave me alone?"
"Because... I'm not a good guy?"
"Naughty boys need punishment. I'll take one of your eyes... Hehe, what a cute face you're making."
"Wow, evil Kaguya is terrifying," Natsuki sighed.
The saying was true - darkness triples strength, while light weakens sevenfold.
Though Natsuki was a guy, he didn't feel confident. He suspected if he'd come alone, Kaguya would've overpowered him easily.
"To keep you from running, should I break your legs too?" Dark Kaguya tilted her head, eyes hollow. "Then you'd be mine forever."
"I'm gonna have to decline," Natsuki took a deep breath, bravely refusing.
He could handle Sadako's quirks, even considering maternity leave for her. But this vengeful Kaguya was too much. Breaking legs left and right - what man could endure such humiliation?