Darkness was falling.
The corridor grew darker by the second, filling the air with an oppressive gloom.
Amamiya let out a quiet breath and stepped into Ward 405. Rikka, trailing right behind him, rushed in before the door slammed shut.
The ward was just as dim and eerie as before. However, instead of a TV, there was only a small card table in the middle of the room, with a dried bat specimen hanging on the wall.
Chika was kneeling by the card table. Across from her sat her 'roommate'—a delinquent girl with twin ponytails, exaggerated smokey eye makeup, a curvy figure, and a mischievous smile. Beside her lay a bloodstained baseball bat.
"Harley Quinn?" Rikka's eyes widened.
No way. This can't be the actual Harley Quinn from the Marvel Universe. There's no way Harley would play a stick-on game with Chika.
The vengeful girl in front of them was most likely just a Harley Quinn cosplayer. After all, judging by her stomach, she didn't even have a six-pack. How could she possibly be Harley?
Miss Ghost wasn't offended. Instead, she tilted her head, a creepy grin spreading across her face. She licked her lips, her tongue unnervingly long.
"Look what I've found! Two more cuties. Come, let's play together."
That tongue is really long, Amemiya thought.
He couldn't help but imagine she'd be great at tying a knot with a cherry stem… purely as a random thought.
Clearing away those distractions, Amemiya focused on Chika, his tone growing dry.
"So... you're playing a Pretty Girl Stick-On game?"
Chika, dressed in only her underwear—a white bra and a cute pink panda-themed pair of panties—had already lost her school uniform, shoes, stockings, skirt, and accessories.
Amemiya's gaze drifted downward for a moment. He hadn't noticed before, but despite looking slightly plump, she had an incredibly slim waist.
"I didn't want to get close to her!" Chika cried out, her eyes brimming with tears. "I've already lost everything!"
"What does 'stick-on' even mean?" Rikka asked in a low voice, curiosity piqued.
Amemiya shook his head gravely. "That's something kids shouldn't be asking about. Trust me."
"..."
Chika, still teary-eyed, recounted her harrowing experience. After entering the ward, she found herself alone, only to be cornered by a ghost dressed as Harley Quinn. Forced into a card game with terrifying stakes, Chika had no choice but to play.
The rules were straightforward—lose an item after each defeat. And by 'item,' it could mean clothing, skin, flesh, teeth, even eyes. After all, this was a ghost's game, not a casual one.
What could Chika do? After losing repeatedly, her only option was to strip down to the bare minimum—her underwear.
Amemiya glanced at the smug, fully dressed Harley Quinn and said, "So, you haven't won a single game?"
"She must be cheating!" Chika exclaimed, even more aggrieved. "Back at school, I never lost this much when playing cards game with my friends!"
"Oh, cutie, don't make baseless accusations without proof," Harley Quinn teased with a sinister grin. "Or else, I'll pull out your tongue. Cheating is strictly forbidden at the card table. Even I can't break that rule."
So, cheating's off-limits at the card table, huh?
A subtle hint appeared before Amemiya, and he smiled. "Mind if I join in?"
"Huh?"
"This seems like a fun game. I want in."
"Interesting human." Harley's delighted smile widened. "Sure, but first, I need to finish this round with the little cutie here... Now it's my turn."
Chika nervously held up her cards. She only had two left—a Five of Hearts and a Joker.
In other words, this was the final moment.
"Which one is it?" Harley Quinn's excitement grew as her fingers hovered over the two cards.
"This one..." Harley's finger neared the Joker, and just as Chika let her guard down, Harley swooped in and snatched away her other card.
"I lost again..." Chika whimpered like a small, wounded animal, collapsing in defeat.
"My dear, it seems you're having a streak of bad luck today," Harley grinned. "Top or bottoms—take your pick. You have one minute to decide. If you don't, I'll choose for you."
Chika bit her lower lip, trembling with frustration. Only her underwear remained, and losing either piece would be catastrophic.
But a ghost's game is not one to defy.
If I have to choose one…
"I'll never get married if I go through with this!" Chika cried out, covering her chest with both hands. She looked to Amemiya in desperation. "Amamiya-kun, should we use 'that' trick?"
"You can try it," Amemiya nodded.
Chika's eyes widened as she pointed at the ghost: "Outlaw Don! I'm calling you—do you dare answer me?"
"Don?" The ghost girl blinked in confusion. Her body suddenly froze as if controlled by an invisible force. Then her lips moved, seemingly beyond her will. "...Yes, that's right. I am the lawless criminal, Don."
Amemiya stepped forward, pressing his hand on her shoulder as a sudden realization struck him.
The skill worked!
"You're under arrest, Outlaw Don," Amemiya said, voice serious.
The ghost struggled to resist but found her body completely immobile. She could only mutter helplessly, "Who even is Don? I'm not... I-I... Yes, I am the Outlaw, Don."
"Actually, I'm a time-space police officer," Amemiya said with a straight face, spouting nonsense. "I've been chasing you through countless worlds, Outlaw Don. You're a multiverse-level criminal with the most dangerous mind and endless schemes. Your reign of terror ends today."
"Wow, that's amazing!" Rikka's eyes sparkled with admiration.
"You humans are always lying," Miss Ghost sneered. "But I'm not falling for your tricks. Many of my friends have been fooled by your kind, but not me. By the way, your minute's almost up."
"Huh?" Amemiya was startled and turned to Chika.
She too looked back in confusion.
Then, in the blink of an eye, Chika's eyes widened even further as she moved her hands behind her back.
"W-wait, my hands are moving on their own!" Chika panicked. "Amamiya-kun, close your eyes—don't look at me!"