After all, I had already promised Utaha for Saturday, so I couldn't go back on my word!
Okay!
Eriri didn't think too much about it. Ryuji mentioned having something scheduled, so she naturally assumed it was something important.
Then how about Sunday at noon?
Sure!
Yay!
With Ryuji's clear response, Eriri jumped up in excitement.
"Great! Great! Great! Great!"
She cheered out loud.
"What should I wear that day?"
She wanted to appear in her most beautiful form.
Eriri immediately rushed to her closet, sorting through her large collection of clothes, and began trying on different outfits in front of the mirror.
"..."
Meanwhile, outside the door, Sayuri, Eriri's mother, peeked in and observed her daughter's enthusiastic behavior. Slowly, she started to realize something.
Is she in love?
No… it seemed more like her daughter had turned into a complete bootlicker!
After coming to this realization, Sayuri couldn't help but feel more helpless. Due to Eriri's personality, Sayuri had always worried about whether her daughter could ever find a boyfriend.
But now, it looked like her daughter was evolving into a total bootlicker!
Sigh…
I, Sayuri Sawamura, who have a great reputation, how did I end up with a daughter like this?
No! I need to check out who this boy is!
With that thought, Sayuri's face grew more serious. No matter what, this was her daughter. She couldn't just sit back and let her daughter be taken advantage of! Quietly, she closed the door and left.
However, Eriri, who was lost in her own excitement, didn't notice anything.
---
"I have the potential to be a master of time management!"
Ryuji couldn't help but sigh after putting his phone down.
"What's that?"
At that moment, Miko, who had just finished preparing dinner, came out of the kitchen and looked at Ryuji curiously. She hadn't heard what Ryuji had just said.
"Nothing important."
Ryuji smiled and put his phone away as he walked over.
Even though he knew Miko was well-behaved and understanding, he didn't need to mention this particular topic right now. There would be time to talk about it later.
Though Ryuji had no intentions of being the "good guy" type, he also didn't plan on deceiving any of the women in his life.
There was still one day left before the weekend holiday.
He still had to go to school.
But what he didn't expect was to receive a call from Shizuka on his way to school.
"What are your plans for tomorrow's weekend?"
The moment the call connected, Shizuka's carefree voice rang out.
From the tone of her voice, Ryuji could tell she was hoping they could spend the weekend together.
Ryuji didn't mind, but…
"I already have plans. Does going on a date with two beautiful girls count as a weekend arrangement?"
"..."
Shizuka went silent on the other end of the phone.
"Then don't ever bother coming over again in your life!"
"Hahaha!"
Ryuji could easily imagine the expression she must have had at that moment.
"Well, how about I come over tonight to make up for it?"
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I wouldn't want to disturb your date with those two lovely ladies!"
Although Shizuka had half-expected this situation, it was impossible for her not to feel at least a little jealous after hearing what Ryuji said. There was a clear trace of sarcasm in her voice.
"So, I won't come over to your place then."
"No way!"
Her shout was like a kitten's hiss when its fur stood on end.
"You said you'd come, so you have to come!"
"Alright, alright!"
Teasing Shizuka from time to time was always fun.
---
After hanging up the call, Miko, who had been standing nearby, looked over at Ryuji and asked curiously, "Who was that?"
Ryuji hadn't bothered hiding the phone call, so it was only natural for Miko to have overheard it.
She wasn't upset, just curious.
"It was Shizuka."
"Hiratsuka Sensei?" Miko asked, a bit surprised. She hadn't expected that.
She had thought most of Ryuji's close friends were around her age, but now it seemed like that wasn't the case.
"Doesn't this just prove that I'm even more attractive as a man?"
Ryuji grinned, wrapping an arm around Miko's shoulders.
"..."
---
The classroom was bustling that morning.
Small groups had gathered to chat and talk about various lively topics.
Among them was Hayato, a popular guy in the class who, for some reason, had become unusually quiet. He sat alone, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, over in the girls' group, a strange silence had fallen over Yumiko and her friends.
When they first arrived at the classroom, they noticed that all of them had developed even darker circles under their eyes. For a moment, they exchanged looks but said nothing.
Just a few days ago, they had tried comforting each other by saying the strange dreams they were having were probably just psychological effects.
But now, they couldn't even muster words of comfort.
The dreams they had last night felt more real than ever. The terrifying presence within those nightmares was growing stronger. It felt like, in a few days, that thing from their dreams would show up in real life.
Fear had settled deep in their hearts. Sleep had become elusive, and none of them felt at ease anymore.
Yumiko and the others were too exhausted to even sit together and talk.
Only Yui kept glancing over at Ryuji, unsure if she should ask him for help. Her hesitation lingered throughout the morning and lasted until lunch break.
She watched as Ryuji left the classroom, still struggling to call out to him, but fear held her back.
"We're going to die, aren't we?"
Unlike the lively atmosphere in the classroom, Yumiko and Hina looked utterly drained and defeated.
Even Yumiko, who had always been tough, didn't bother putting up a strong front anymore. She had always brushed off the nightmares as psychological tricks, but after what she had experienced last night, she could no longer deny it.
She was really scared.
"Is there really no way out?"
A young girl like her didn't want to die so soon.
"If these things are real, then there must be people who can handle them!"
"How about we go to a shrine after school?" Hina suggested.
People who dealt with spirits and the supernatural would probably be found at shrines, right?
"It's no use! I've already tried that."
Yumiko lowered her head.
Yesterday, she had visited a famous temple nearby, hoping to find a solution.
She spent a lot of money on protective charms, but none of it worked. The nightmares still came.
"They're just a bunch of scammers…"
Hina didn't know what to say. Yumiko's experience had shattered any hope she had.
At this point, they were out of ideas.
"That..."
Just when the atmosphere felt suffocating, Yui, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke up.
She seemed timid, but her voice carried a hint of resolve.
"I know someone who can help with this!"
"???"
Yumiko and Hina both looked at her, surprised.
---
Meanwhile, at the Service Club, things were a bit livelier than usual.
Thanks to Rikka and Sanae, the room was filled with energy.
"Oh!"
Rikka's eyes sparkled when she saw Ryuji's high collar.
"Is this a new look? Today's Guardian Knight must be a noble magician!" She excitedly struck a few poses in front of him.
"If that's the case, let me, the wielder of the Tyrant Eye, be your opponent, Great Magician of the Abyss!"
"..."
The Great Magician of the Abyss? Is that my new title now?
Watching Rikka bounce around happily, Ryuji didn't bother correcting her.
"No, no!" Sanae chimed in, shaking her head seriously.
"I think this looks more like a bard's outfit."
"Magician!"
"Bard!"
"Magician!"
"..."
Is there really a reason to argue about this?
Watching the two bicker, everyone else in the room aside from Ryuji looked thoroughly confused.
However, the atmosphere was so cheerful that even Yukino, who usually preferred quiet, didn't say anything to stop them.
After all, even Yukino longed for friendship, even if she didn't admit it.
Noticing Ryuji's gaze, Yukino quickly looked away.
The effect of last night's dreamwalking seemed to have worked quite well.
Perhaps it was time to intensify things.
Ryuji was rather pleased with her reaction.
Just then, a knock on the door interrupted the lively argument in the room.
Everyone exchanged glances, then all turned to look at Ryuji even Yukino.
Wait, aren't you the president of this club?
"Why are you all looking at me? If someone's knocking, open the door!"
---
The people who walked in were Yumiko, Yui, and Hina.
On the way over, Yui had told Yumiko about how she had seen Ryuji demonstrate his strange powers.
Yumiko found it hard to believe at first. But because Yui was her friend, she decided to come and see for herself.
However, what Yumiko didn't expect was to run into her "lifelong rival" here.
"You… Yukino?"
Seeing Yukino sitting in the clubroom, Yumiko's expression darkened.
Noticing Yumiko's hostile gaze, Yukino frowned. She recognized Yumiko immediately. She had memorized the names and faces of all the students in their grade, and Yumiko's reputation preceded her. It wasn't surprising that she knew who she was.
However, what was with the attitude? They had never really interacted before.
"Yumiko!"
As her friends, both Yui and Hina knew how Yumiko felt about Yukino. They quickly tried to defuse the tension, pulling on Yumiko's arm before things could escalate.
"Please, Yumiko. We came here to ask for help. This isn't the time for a fight."
"..."
Yumiko wasn't unreasonable. She knew the importance of their situation.
She took a deep breath and refocused. After calming herself, she finally spoke seriously.
"We're here to ask for help."
The moment she said that, everyone in the Service Club room including Ryuji exchanged surprised glances.
Yumiko explained on the way that she had learned from Yui that Ryuji was involved in a club called the Service Club. She had also found out what kind of things the club did.
However, what Yumiko hadn't known was that the club president was none other than her supposed nemesis, Yukino.
Yumiko's dislike of Yukino didn't stem from any real conflict. It was more a matter of their natural personas clashing.
Yumiko was fiery and popular, while Yukino was cool, distant, and admired from afar.
To Yumiko, Yukino's cold attitude always seemed fake, like she was putting on an act to appear superior to everyone.
---
"Need help?" Yukino repeated, a bit surprised by the seriousness in Yumiko's tone.
This was the first time a student had directly come to the Service Club seeking assistance. (Her encounters with Shizuka Hiratsuka didn't count.)
Yukino's demeanor changed instantly, becoming more focused and professional.
"So, what do you need help with?"